Adeyanju to FG, Port Operators: 2026 must deliver hope, fair play and safer Nigeria
Maureen Aguta
The immediate past President-General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Prince (Dr) Adewale Adeyanju, has lauded Nigerians for their resilience and endurance in the face of prolonged hardship, insecurity and economic strain, while calling on the Federal Government and terminal operators to urgently improve workers’ welfare in 2026.
In a New Year message to Nigerians, Adeyanju said the past years had been exceptionally difficult for citizens, marked by rising insecurity, displacement, job losses and a surging cost of living that has deepened poverty across the country.
He noted that despite kidnappings, communal conflicts, terror attacks and economic hardship, Nigerians have continued to show remarkable courage and faith in the future of the country.
According to him, the scale of suffering experienced by ordinary Nigerians — including attacks on places of worship, widespread fear and declining living standards — underscores the urgent need for policies that will restore hope, security and economic stability.
Adeyanju, who also serves as Vice President (Global) of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said Nigerians had endured “too much pain,” particularly in parts of the country where insecurity has persisted, stressing that citizens have nevertheless refused to give up on the idea of a united and prosperous Nigeria.
He praised Nigerians for holding on to the belief that the country would rebound and reclaim its pride of place in the comity of nations, urging unity beyond religious, ethnic and political differences. “What binds us together as Nigerians must be stronger than the challenges confronting us,” he said.
The labour leader also echoed the concerns of organised labour over the declining purchasing power of workers’ wages. He noted that Nigerian workers have continued to make sacrifices in spite of harsh economic realities, calling on the Federal Government to urgently review workers’ wages in line with the rising cost of living as the country enters 2026.
Adeyanju further appealed to terminal operators to improve the remuneration and working conditions of dockworkers and seafarers under the MWUN, describing such a review as critical given current economic pressures.
He reminded terminal operators of the pivotal role played by the union during the port concessioning process, which helped to stabilise and reposition the maritime sector.
On port operations, the former MWUN leader called for the immediate return of onboard security gangway personnel to Nigeria’s seaports, warning that weak monitoring has led to significant revenue leakages due to poor accountability of vessel movements. He urged the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to act swiftly, noting that tighter controls would boost government revenue and improve port efficiency.
Adeyanju also called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle insurgency and insecurity nationwide, expressing confidence that steps taken so far by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are capable of restoring lasting peace if sustained and strengthened.
He appealed for people-centred and economy-friendly policies that would ease the suffering of Nigerians, reunite the country and drive industrial growth, expressing optimism that 2026 would deliver on the much-anticipated “renewed hope” agenda.
Adeyanju concluded by wishing Nigerians a belated Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, expressing hope that the coming year would usher in improved security, economic vibrancy and a better quality of life for all citizens.
and drive industrial growth, expressing optimism that 2026 would deliver on the much-anticipated “renewed hope” agenda.
Adeyanju concluded by wishing Nigerians a belated Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, expressing hope that the coming year would usher in improved security, economic vibrancy and a better quality of life for all citizens.