The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has called on the barge operators to use standard and world-class equipment.
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 on Wednesday.
Jime maintained that NSC as port economic regulator wants efficiency in barge operations in Nigeria while reiterating the need for operators of barges to embrace the 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.
President of BOAN, 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 was 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 stakeholders to meet with the terminal operators In-order to proffer solutions to issues inhibiting barge operations in the country.
Head of Enforcement, BOAN, Nura Wagami, 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 tons, but what we see is truckers carrying goods up to 100 tons,” he said.
Jime assured members of the association that the council will collaborate with necessary stakeholders to resolve all issues.