The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) has attributed the high cost of doing business at the nation’s port to lack of provision of adequate berths by seaport terminal operators. This is even as the group lauded the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over the cancellation of a N20 million bank bond demand by terminal operators.
Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, President of BOAN, Mr Edema Keliekume, lamented that due to in adequate berthing arrangement, barges spend more time waiting to load or discharge cargoes, thereby increasing the amount of demurrages on cargoes while also jacking up the cost of what barge operators charge.
According to the BOAN President, “I will like to laud the NPA on the recent directive that terminal operators stop the demand for N20 million bank bond from barge operators. This will really help the barge operators to improve on service delivery because the money which used to be tied down at one terminal at a time before will now be used for other purposes.
“However, we will like the authorities to look at the provision of adequate berths for barges. This is really affecting cost of doing business at the ports because due to inadequate berths for barges at the port terminals, barges spend more time waiting to either load cargoes or discharge them. The more time spent at the port terminals waiting for berths, the higher the charges that will be slammed on cargoes by the barge operators.
“Again, the longer time spent waiting for berths by barges, the higher the demurrages that will be slammed on empties by the shipping firms. So, you can see that this issue is one of the major reasons why the cost of doing business at the ports is high.”
Recall that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has established a regulatory framework for the operation of barges across the nation’s seaports under a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which must be complied with by all operators effective September 1, 2021.
In a statement signed recently by the General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, NPA, Olaseni Alakija, the agency advised all terminal operators not to demand the collection of a N20 million naira bank bond, with a promise to liaise with the relevant government agencies for a downward review of prevailing charges on carriage of containers.
On communication, the Acting Managing Director of the NPA hinted that henceforth, the installation of acceptable UHF Radio communication devices as well as navigational lights on board all barges would be among the critical mandatory requirements for operators by September 1 to ensure safe and secured operational services.
The NPA MD identified efficient barge operational systems for easy evacuation as a panacea for port congestion, as this would ensure that regulatory standards are strictly adhered to, warning that no illegality would be tolerated any longer.
On capacity, he said management is strategising for effective partnership with barge operators in the area of training to enable them acquire more knowledge on the profession which is expected
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
and then