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By Kenneth Jukpor
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has assured Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) of its commitment to curb issues of multiple taxation affecting barge operators in the country.
The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime made this promise when he received an executive delegation from BOAN led by its Acting President, Hon. Bunmi Olumekun for a courtesy visit to the NSC headquarters in Lagos, yesterday.
Jime, however, called on the barge operators to utilize standard and world class equipment, stressing 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 as this 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 even as he enjoined barge operators to take advantage of the ongoing stakeholders’ registration at the Council.
The Acting President of BOAN, Hon. 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 cargoes 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 has 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.
On his part, 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. 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 said.
Hon. Emmanuel Jime assured members of the association that the Council will collaborate with necessary stakeholders to resolve all issues.
This information was disseminated via a press statement signed by the Head of Public Relations, NSC, Rakiya Dhikru-Yagboyaju.
