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My interest is to ensure whoever succeeds me would not destroy the legacy we have built over the years– Adewale Adeyanju.

In 2017, Prince Adewale Adeyanju Waheed  was first elected as the President – General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and was returned unopposed in March 2021, the first ever PG to enjoy such rare privilege.
By March 2025, he would have completed 8 momentous years of effective leadership as the number one maritime worker in the Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Those years the stakeholders unanimously agreed heralded peace and  industrial harmony in the maritime industry.
Those years which stakeholders, in the years to come, will look back at with nostalgia as years that were clear departure from the tenures of his predecessors which were characterised by thuggery, violence, industrial unrest and blood shed.
On Monday January 6th, 2025, Prince Adeyanju, the outgoing and indefatigable PG, MWUN ,spoke to FUNSO OLOJO in his office where he revealed his unique  style of leadership that has endeared him to the leaders and the led.
He disclosed what he has done differently that has enthroned discipline in the union, peace and industrial harmony in the port industry.
He also spoke about his legacy of negotiations rather than confrontation which he prayed his successor preserves.
He however concluded that he has a strong succession plan that will ensure the emergence of who will consolidate on his achievements as the next President -General of the union.
It is a must read

 By March, 2025, you would have spent years as the President- General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN). 

Those years are generally regarded as peaceful marked by industrial harmony in the maritime industry which was a clear departure from years of thuggery and industrial crises that was the hallmark of tenure of your predecessors.
What did you do differently?
 If you have a father who trained you, you will be a good child and perform excellently on behalf of the father.
You know this industry is sensitive and peculiar and global in nature .
Over the years, I have worked with trusted and tested union leaders in the industry under whom I cut my teeth as a unionist.
I have worked with Chief Ogunleye who was the first President of the Dockworkers branch of the union.
He trained us in so many ways.
Also,if you have an employer who believes in management and unionism, it is better for you.
I am going to leave a vibrant union, a union that believes in negotiations, a union that believes in working with the management, protecting the interests of workers and not selling the rights of workers before the management.
We believe in open dialogue where you put all the options on the table so that we will be able to convince our members on the true position of things without any compromise or deceit.
Unlike in those days whenever elections were coming, there would be tension, thuggery and violence.
But not now. As you can see, three months to the elections, every where is peaceful. No gunshot, no thuggery.
That is the legacy of peace and tranquility we are leaving behind.
I have learnt the rope from the successive leadership of the union.
I was a defence minister under Irabor and  Tony Nted both the former PG of the union and now as the PG, I rose through the ranks.
Tony was the PG while I was the President of the Dockworkers branch . I was the Treasurer when Irabor emerged as PG in 2001.
Even, when Ukammuna was the President of Dockworkers before he eventually became the PG, I was an Operation manager in the Port.
This has put me in good stead  and given me enough experience to study the dynamics of the politics of the MWUN.
I have understood the complexity of the union and its members to be able to forge a synergy between the union and the employers that has now resulted to the industrial harmony we have now.
I didn’t just become PG by default.I came prepared for it.
These experiences really helped me to manage the union and restore sanity and order at the Ports.
I don’t believe in shutting down the port which is an essential part of the Nigeria’s economy, second only to oil and gas in terms of revenue and disrupting the activities of such important sector will hurt the economy.
Yes, strike is the weapon of any union leader but it should be the last resort when all negotiations failed.
Even at that, it has to be applied with wisdom.
In our own case, in order to avoid shutting down the port, we issue ultimatum which is a warning, a kind of awareness  for the employers, government and employees.
If they cannot meet the first ultimatum, we issue another one while negotiations continue.
By this method, you avoid  disruption of operations at the ports which is not healthy to the economy.
That is just part of the wisdom we applied that enthroned peace and industrial harmony we enjoy at the ports today.
Also, I have a vibrant executives who are from all our four branches such as NPA, Dockworkers, seafarers and Shipping branches.
They believed in my leadership style and keyed into my vision of negotiations and reconciliation to enthrone industrial harmony.
And as a leader, you must be disciplined, transparent, humble, approachable, proactive and sensitive to the welfare of members.
You must also run an interactive and open administration devoid of deceit and the one that inspires confidence in those you are leading.
Don’t disconnect with your workers, tell them the truth, don’t lie to them.
Those are part of the qualities they see in us that make them believed in our leadership which makes it easy to pursue our vision of peace and industrial harmony.
This has helped the system and it has also helped me.
I give God the glory.
The major cause of friction between the workers and management is the issue of welfare.
More often than not, negotiations break down and some union leaders resort to strike, especially when dealing with recalcitrant employers.
Have you met with such difficult employers in the cause of your negotiations for better welfare of your members?
They are many.
Then how do you bend them to agree to your terms of negotiations without any crisis?
It’s God. When you know your job and what you are doing.
There is no way you will not face those challenges but at the end of the day, you will still prevail.
But you give time for me to win, time for me to lose.
It is win win situation.
If you won today, I prepare for you next time.
So it helps. You can’t be rigid all the time by saying you must get what you want by all means. It is not done like that if you want peace.
I also believe that it is the employer who do not value his employees that deny them what rightfully belongs to them.
If one terminal is shut down today, it will affect the economy of the country.
So it’s give and take. You win some, you lose some.
Some of them are funny, they will tell you they will give you this but not this.
Ok, give me what you have and when next we are coming, you know we are coming to collect the remaining ones you didn’t give us the other time.
That was how we do it that makes us to achieve peace and industrial harmony.
How do you often calm down your members whenever their demands are not met or fully met.
A. We tell them the true situation of this, what we met and we ask for their opinions.
The workers too have their opinions, let them be part of the negotiations, let them make inputs. Let them speak out their mind.
I connect with my members, I engage them in open discussions at meetings held regularly to feel their pulse.
I will ask them if I make mistakes,they should tell me.
A leader should not be too big or bossy to be corrected.
I run an all inclusive administration that involves the participation of every one, from the leaders to the led.
 By March, this year, you would have put in 8 years of hard work when you build a union that is disciplined, peaceful and devoid of violence.
Now that you are leaving, are you not scared that a person who does not share your vision of peace and industrial harmony may emerge as the next PG of the union 
The person who handed over to me was not scared, so am not scared about who is likely to succeed me.
However, I should know who will succeed me.
I should be interested in who succeeds me. A good leader must have a good succession plan.
I must ensure that whoever wants to succeeds me would not destroy the legacy we have built over the years.
A legacy of peace, industrial harmony and sanity.
He must be the one who will not drag the ports into violence, who will not introduce tribalism, who will not introduce thuggery and someone who will not sell the birth rights of workers on the negotiation table.
The person should not be arrogant, he should be humble to the employers and members. He should be the one that will respect the constituted authority.
I should know who is coming.
I pray the person who succeeds me will perform.
We would give the necessary guidance to ensure the suitable candidate emerges as the next PG of the union.
 What happens if the person who possesses all these leadership qualities you want to succeeds you is not popular
How can I bring a person who is not popular?
I am popular, so the person too will be popular.
I will not impose anyone who is not popular or doesn’t know the job.
It is one thing to become PG , it is another thing to have the capacity to manage the four branches of the union.
The person must be ready to work because he is taking over from a workaholic.
We have transformed the union into a global brand, as the Vice president, global, executive board member , worldwide, Chairman, Africa, ITF and the Vice President of NLC.
We can beat our chest and say we have done well.
So whoever wants to succeeds me should possess the requisite capacity and competence to lead a global brand as Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.
I won’t support any candidate again the others, we are all family members but we must ensure that the right person who will preserve the legacies we have built over the years emerges as the next PG.
Also, I shall be available to offer guidance and advice when necessary.
Am aware that some of them have indicated interest to become the next PG, they are all presentable but we know who is qualified to become the next PG, according to our constitution.
We learnt that eight people have come out to contest for the headship of the Union.
Who do you think is most suitable among them.
 It is only one of them who can become the next PG, the rest can go for Deputy PG, Treasurer and the like.
We have 12 elective offices in the union.
However, we are organized body.
We have our tradition of negotiations and compromise to ensure suitable candidates emerge from the for unions for all the 12 elective positions, including the PG.
But if anyone doesn’t want the special arrangement through which we negotiate the positions and decides to go to the poll, so be it.
We leave the person to go and test his popularity at the poll.
So there wouldn’t be imposition but the founding fathers of the union will speak.
 Do you have anointed candidate among those jostling to succeed you?
 We are unionists. We have our tradition as I have told you.
I can’t say whether I have anointed candidate or not but I must have a successor.
About the anointed, let God speak to me concerning that.
I am neutral as a father to study the situation.
But when it is time for us to sit down as a family, them we can speak.
As it is now, let them be playing their game.
But what is sacrosanct, what is my major concern is that whoever emerges as my successor should preserve my legacy which is the prayer of any leader.
I pray that whoever emerges will do better than me.
 What is your most challenging period during your tenure as the PG?
The most challenging time for me is when we had crisis with our former PG, Chief Ukammuna.
Several years when his tenure was cut short by government and Irabor took over, he still held that grudge against all his successors, including me to the extent that when I was to take over as the the PG in 2017, hell was let loose.
I believe it was his lieutenants who were manipulating himself to forment trouble.
For 23 years after he left unceremoniously, he was still bitter.
However, my happiest day was when he came to the Secretariat and we struck a truce. We were able to resolve the age- long rift and there was a reconciliation.
We have forgiven ourselves and become one large family.
 After the PG of MWUN, what next 
God takes care of that. He will direct me. He has always been my mentor.
Are you planning to become the President of the NLC now that you are the Vice President.
Let’s wait for His time
However, after my tenure as the PG, am still in the Port industry. I am a stakeholder and am still the VP of NLC, VP of ITF.
I only step down as PG of MWUN because my tenure expires in March.
I have an international office as the ITF VP, African Chairman, Executive member, ITF.
So am still around and busy.
Last Word
I want to thank the maritime press who have contributed to the success of my administration as the PG of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.
I thank all other stakeholders for their support.
I want to say that our election doesn’t require external forces unlike the way it was before.
We have our mechanism we apply for the conference.
It is going to be a peaceful quadrennial Delegate conference devoid of crisis.
But we shall notify the government.
 Whoever wants to bring out what we have buried would be handed over to the authority to face the full wrath of the law.
Let me assure all the industry stakeholders that the elections will not bring crisis.
Whoever wants to bring trouble, we shall trouble them.
It is going to be a family election that will usher in the next executives that will build on our legacy of peace and industrial harmony.
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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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Customs

Ogun Customs spurns claims of Smugglers’ takeover of Idiroko–Sango Ota trading Route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false reports alleging that smugglers had taken over the Idiroko–Sango Ota trading route in Ogun State, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of a traffic incident.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Chado, the Command clarified that the traffic gridlock on the route resulted from the breakdown of an articulated commercial trailer after it fell into a badly deteriorated section of Atan Road, temporarily obstructing the free flow of traffic.
According to the Command, the vehicles caught in the ensuing congestion were legitimate commercial trucks transporting red palm oil to various local markets and had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities.
It explained that the large number of heavy-duty trucks trapped in the gridlock may have led some members of the public to wrongly conclude that smugglers had taken over the road.
“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. The disruption resulted from a road accident and poor road conditions. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.
The Command urged journalists, social media users and the general public to verify information before disseminating reports capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Observers within the border trade sector noted that the allegation does not reflect the prevailing security situation within the Ogun I Area Command, where anti-smuggling operations have been intensified under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.
Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has strengthened intelligence-driven surveillance, enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and host communities, and sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors.
These measures, according to stakeholders, have resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity.
Maritime and border trade stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining the efforts of security personnel or creating a false impression of lawlessness in border communities.
They stressed that while combating smuggling remains an ongoing responsibility, responsible and accurate reporting is equally critical to ensuring that operational achievements are not overshadowed by misinformation.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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