The League of Maritime Editors and Publishers (LOMEP) has unequivocally condemned the invasion of some shipping companies by officials of the Federal Committee on Competition and Consumer Protection.
According to reports by the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the officials aided by heavily armed police and army personnel, invaded the premises of shipping companies via COSCO, HULLBLYTH, CMA/CGM, LANSAL and HAPOD LYOD and unleashed mayhem on the workers at these companies.
LOMEP made its position known in a press statement issued today, signed by the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Friday Odemena.
Reports have it that personal effects of the staff at the shipping companies, such as phones were seized by the government officials while the staff were also held hostage for several hours.
“The harsh action must be roundly condemned by all well meaning Nigerians. Though we are not against government officials exercising their statutory responsibilities but such acts must be done responsibly.”
“We believe that laid down procedures must be adhered to, in the process of executing such responsibilities, else the gains will be lost. This mode of harassing companies and their staff must stop, because if not well handled, it negates the growth of business environment,” the veteran journalist group posited.
The group added that such ignominious act of government officials should be roundly condemned, and such work place invasion should be discouraged.
“While we encourage government officials to step up the tempo in their enforcement process, we appeal that extreme caution should be exercised in order not to negate the current democratic dispensation,” it said.
Noting that the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) officials have denied knowledge of this heinous act, LOMEP appealed to the arm of the government culpable in the unpalatable act to thread softly because the country operates in a democratic dispensation.
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