From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
Apart from its primary role of fast and safer evacuation of containers from the ports, a well-regulated barge operating industry in the maritime sector is critical to ending gridlocks on the nation’s ports access roads, the Director-General, says Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh.
Jamoh, who hosted the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) in Lagos, noted that “barge operations have helped to reduce gridlocks in Apapa.
“They are involved with the transportation of container goods from one point to another within the inland waters, thereby putting less pressure on our roads, while also contributing their quota to national economic development.”
Therefore, he urged the operators to invest in modern barges to enable them compete favourably with foreign counterparts, as this will help them remain in business and protect their jobs from foreigners.
While assuring that NIMASA will do all it can to promote barge operations as alternative means of transportation, he enjoined BOAN to train members, as this will help them to meet up with modern day realities, as well as encourage professionalism in their duties.
“Capacity development is good for the industry players in order to remain relevant, while being able to compete favourably with operators in other climes,” he stated.
“The business of shipping is evolving with increasing technological advancement hence training cannot be toiled with in order to remain valuable in the shipping market.
Meanwhile, Jamoh disclosed that NIMASA has started wreck removal across the country to ensure that the channels are free for navigation, while also avoiding accidents on the waterways.
According to him, “this is the first time the agency has undertaken a holistic approach to wreck removal, cutting across all the zones from Lagos to Port Harcourt, among other areas, all geared towards safety of navigation.”
BOAN President, Bunmi Olumekun, had earlier acknowledged NIMASA’s efforts towards the growth and development of the maritime sector, and pledged the association’s continuous cooperation towards realising the current administration’s three-point agenda.
Expressing concern at the involvement of foreigners’ in barge operations in Nigeria, Olumekun called on NIMASA to facilitate members’ access to loans at single digit interest rate to help operators acquire state of the earth barges.
