Barge Accidents: Apapa, Onne Port Community Youths Defend NPA, NIMASA Heads

…Says Demand for their Resignation by Freight Forwarders Mischievous

The United Apapa Youth Forum and Onne/Ikpokiri youths have passed a vote of confidence on the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) saying the call for their resignations by freight forwarders and port stakeholders should be disregarded.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the paramount ruler of the Torukongo communities in Onne, Rivers State, and the Grand Patron of United Apapa Youth Forum, His Royal Highness, Ambassador Victor Nangibo (JP) warned that the NPA MD, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman and the NIMASA DG, Dr Bashir Jamoh cannot be held responsible any barge accident on the Lagos waterways.

Recall that six groups in the maritime sector including Shippers Association Lagos State (SALS), Ndigboamaka Progressive Traders Association, Association of Registered Freight Forwarding of Nigeria (AREFFN) African Professional Freight and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) Congregation of Registered Freight Forwarding Practitioners of Nigeria (CREFFPON) Justice and People-Care Foundation, as well as Sea Empowerment and Research Centre called for the resignation of heads of the government agencies over a recent barge accident.

The barge accident which occurred on the 6th of March, 2021 along KLT/Mile 2 – Maza Maza water channels where about six (6) 40ft containers said to contain electronics (new LED TV sets) went down the water deep. The containers are valued at Five Hundred Million Naira (N500, 000,000.00)

But in the statement by Nangibo, the NPA boss has done tremendously well in development of the shipping industry in Nigeria, as well as in terms of port development.

“For the DG of NIMASA, we can say since he assumed office as the head of NIMASA, he has been trying his best to ensure that all is well in the safety of the waterways.

“Dr Jamoh has come to stay and cannot be forced out of office by any group or association” he said

In another statement made by Comrade Barinee Wai Ogosu and Comrade Livingstone of Ikpokiri Youths Council, the youths also reiterated their supports for the maritime heads.

They issued a sound warning to the freight forwarding groups and traders to desist from trying to “frame” the heads of maritime agencies whom according to them have performed creditably well in revamping the maritime sector.

“They have to desist or else, they will have to answer to the youths of these ports. We advise these groups or associations to look for away and direct there complaints appropriately”

“The youths also direct them to resolve the problems in their already tatard house as groups and association, instead of demanding the resignation of an organised house”

In addition, the President of the United Apapa Youth Forum, Comrade Abdullahi Sulieman berated the Shippers Association Lagos State and the freight forwarders for allegedly “intruding into a matter that doesn’t concern them”

He accused them of haven taken the advantage of the traffic gridlock in Apapa to gain relevance.

Comrade Suleiman alleged that during the #ENDSARS protest that rocked the nation in 2020, the freight forwarders and Shippers allegedly instigated youths to destroy properties in the ports to enable them fly their containers out of the port.

He however said this attempt was foiled by the leadership of the United Apapa Youth Forum.