
KOREDE FOGO
Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) has complained to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) challenges faced in the business.
In a press statement by the Head, Public Relations of the Council, Rakiya Dhikru-Yagboyaju, she said the acting president of BOAN, Hon. Bunmi Olumekun disclosed these challenges during a courtesy visit to the executive secretary, NSC, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, in Lagos on Wednesday.
The BOAN’s President, however, appealed to NSC to intervene in the issue of barge handling charges even as he revealed that the non-uniformity of the charges by terminal operators is affecting their business.
He also said that the imposition of double charges detrimental to their business.
According to him, the engagement of barges for movement of cargo to and from the ports has assisted in reducing congestion at the ports and also reduced gridlock on port access roads.
Also speaking, an executive member of BOAN, Hajia Bola Muse lamented that barge operations in the country has not been given attention like other modes of transportation.
She called on the NSC to summon stakeholders’ meeting with the terminal operators In order to proffer solutions to issues inhibiting barge operations in the country.
Alhaji Nura Wagami, the Head of Enforcement, BOAN, said there is need for a legislation guiding the volume of tonnage trucks are allowed to carry on the roads.
“The roads are death traps and any consignment via road should be regulated to limit volume size” he stated. “By law, barges are to carry goods weighing more than 40 tonnes, but what we see is truckers carrying goods up to 100 tonnes!” he added.
Responding, the Shippers’ Council’s boss called on the barge operators to use standard and world class equipment saying NSC as Port Economic Regulator wants efficiency in barge operations in Nigeria.
He also reiterated the need for operators of barges to embrace digitization of their processes.
The digitization, he said, will reduce human interface while aiding their operations.
The NSC boss assured of readiness to partner with the operators to address anomalies in barges operations.
He also enjoined the barge operators to take advantage of the ongoing stakeholders’ registration at the council.
Share this:
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
- More