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Seaport operators jittery over Ebola

By on August 11, 2014

Fears of a possible spread of the dreaded Ebola virus through the nation’s seaports may have gripped the operators and other stakeholders as they insist on the authorities providing enduring sanitary and strict security measures at the ports.

The stakeholders in the maritime industry specifically urged the Nigerian Ports Authority to improve the sanitary conditions at the ports. This, they said, would prevent the spread of the Ebola virus through the port premises.

The President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr. Eugene Nweke, told SUNDAY PUNCH in a telephone interview on Friday that there was no provision within the ports for public toilets and washbasins for port users.

He said, “The management of the NPA has already issued guidelines meant to restrict movement of those going into the ports and those coming into the country via the ports. While this is commendable, it is also important that they the NPA should improve the sanitary conditions of the ports; this is also a good preventive measure.

“Those who access to the ports do not have any convenient place to ease themselves and wash their hands. This is especially true of the truck drivers who have to wait for days before loading their containers. When they wake up the following day, they take their bath in any space available and also relieve themselves the same way. With the current fears of the disease, I doubt if port officials would be willing to share their toilet facility with other port users.”

Nweke also urged terminal operators to cooperate with the NPA by taking measures to ensure their safety and that of their employees.

He said it had become imperative for port users to wear face masks especially those with direct contact with ships coming into the country.

He said, “There should be some sort of arrangement for the terminal operators and their employees because they are also at risk. However, at the association level, we have been educating our members on the ebola virus and what preventive measures to take that would help to safeguard their health.”

The President, National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, also told SUNDAY PUNCH that there was every possibility of the virus coming in through the seaports.

He called on the port health department to ensure that people coming through the seaports were adequately checked and declared free of the virus.

Amiwero said, “The present cases of ebola that Nigeria has now came in through the airport; so, all our borders are presently at risk. They are possible access ways to spread the disease. The NPA has said it is taking precautionary measures, although these measures have not been made public.

“Making the preventive measures public would have helped to boost the public confidence. However, ensuring that our seaports are safe is going to be a collaborative effort between the NPA and the Nigeria Customs Service, as they are the ones who usually make the first contact with occupants of vessels coming into the country.

“Every occupant must be checked by the health officers in the ports to determine if they are free of the virus.”

The NPA had on Wednesday issued guidelines to its employees and port community stakeholders on the risks posed by the deadly Ebola Virus.

The Managing Director of the NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi, in the statement, acknowledged that Nigerian ports were gateways and as such were vulnerable.

He cautioned port operators, especially the first line contact officers against negligence when dealing with foreigners and vulnerable group.

He had also said that the NPA had begun enlightenment campaigns at all ports and terminals about the origin, symptoms and mode of transmission of the virus. They were also being taught how to identify people at high risk, diagnose, contain and prevent the infection.

 

[Punch]