From left: Head of Enforcement, Barge Operators Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Nura Wagami, Mrs. Bola Muse, an executive member association Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime and cting President BOAN, Hon. Bunmi Olumekun during a working visit to the council in Lagos, recently.

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council NSC has urged barge operators  to ensure standards and deployment of world -class equipment in all their operations in Nigeria.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria BOAN led by its  acting President,  Hon. Bunmi Olumekun to the NSC’s Apapa headquarters in Lagos Wednesday, Executive Secretary/CEO of the Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime said there was no alternative to adopting global standards and deployment of world-class equipment in all their operations.

Jime  maintained that NSC as Port Economic Regulator would not tolerate any form of inefficiency in barge operations in the country. He also reiterated the need for operators of barges to embrace digitisation of their processes.

He said: “The digitisation of your operations will reduce human interface while aiding your operations and quality service delivery. The NSC is ready and willing to partner barge operators  to address all anomalies in barge operations in Nigeria”.

The NSC-boss also enjoined the barge operators to take advantage of the ongoing stakeholders’ registration at the council to register and document all their operational activities.

President  of BOAN Hon. Olumekun, while speaking during the visit, appealed to NSC to intervene in the issue of barge handling charges. He revealed that the non-uniformity of the charges by terminal operators is affecting their business.

“The imposition of double charges detrimental to our business. 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”, the president also argued.

Also speaking, an executive member of BOAN,  Mrs. Bola Muse lamented that barge operation in the country has not been given attention like other modes of transport. She called on the NSC to convene a  stakeholders meeting with the terminal operators In order to proffer solutions to issues inhibiting barge operations in the country.

Head of Enforcement, BOAN, Alhaji Nura Wagami, who also spoke during the visit said there was 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.

The ES/CEO NSC in response assured members of the association that the Council will collaborate with neccesary stakeholders to resolve all the issues.