Shippers’ Council charges barge operators on standard, quality equipment
. Operators cry out over arbitrary charges
By Fredrick Wirght
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called on the barge operators to use standard an world-class equipment for their operations on Nigerian waterways.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Emmanuel Jime made the call when the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) led by its Acting President, Bunmi Olumekun paid a courtesy visit to the NSC”s Headquarters in Lagos.
Jime maintained that 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.
However, Olumekun 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.
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, Mrs. Bola Muse lamented that barge operations in the country have not been given attention like other modes of transportation.
She called on the NSC to summon 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, 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.
