Barge Operators Raise Alarm over Restriction of Access to Port Terminals
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) has alleged that part of challenges being faced by barge operators is the restriction of access to port terminals by concessionaires, as well as exorbitant charges being levied on their operations.
Head of Enforcement of BOAN, Mr Nura Wagani stated this during a stakeholders weekly engagement on an industry platform; Ports and Harbours.
Wagani in his summations on the discuss which centres on causes of the protracted traffic gridlock in Apapa Port, noted that BOAN members have so far helped to decongest the Lagos ports and created an alternative means of intermodal transportation.
He however listed challenges currently faced to include difficulty in port access and exorbitant charges.
“The ports under concession from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to private concessionaires is quite commendable. However, the concessionares have made access to the port quite stringent with their conditions and charges quite exorbitant”
“The barge operation is intermodal in nature and creates lots of in fact to our transport system and yet we are not really accommodated enough by stakeholders because of enormous challenges we are facing by the Nigeria regulator and terminal operators”
The BOAN Enforcement Officer also lamented that barge operations business is being threatened by foreigners who have infiltrated the business.
According to him, “This is an indigenous business that is being designed to provide a secure and reliable job opportunity for our indigenous company but among other challenges is the infiltration by the foreign companies and we are not seeing it as nothing until they take over the barge business before we would wake up” he said
Wagani listed the other challenges faced by BOAN members to include “Navigability of the waterways – Proper channelling, dredging, wreck removal interalia help in the navigability of the waterways to enhance the development of the barging industry.
“Dearth in Finance – as a capital intensive business, financial support is quite critical for the continuity of barging operations”
“Safety and Security – These are critical factors, in line with local regulation, international best practices and IMO rules”
BOAN argued that since its creation, it has played a vital role in the sustainable development of the industry primarily by bridging the gap between the regulatory authorities and the private sector industry players.
The association noted that the industry has observed a huge volume of cargoes; general, bulk, containerized cargoes moved by barges, with over a million Teus of containerized cargo transported within the nation’s inland waterway channel in less than a quarter of a decade.
