BOAN Seeks NIWA, NPA Intervention To Revert Customs Ban On Barge Operations

Following the ban on barge usage to evacuate containers in and out of the seaports,the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) has seek consultation from the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA and National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in a bid to advise the Nigeria Customs Service to revert its earlier suspension of barge operations .

The service at the weekend suspended barge operations over alleged illegal diversion of cargoes to warehouses.

But reacting on the development on Sunday a top members of BOAN in a chat with our correspondent maintained that the ban will not last long because it will further militate against trade facilitation considering the state of the roads linking the seaport.

The operator who spoke under anonymity reiterated that the licensing and regulatory agencies on barge operations have been notified about the suspension and plans are afoot to engage management of the service in Abuja.

According to him, the movement of containers via the waterways have reduced the alleged extortion by officers and men of the Federal Operatives Unit Zone A of the service, noting that management of the service are misinformed about the alleged diversion of cargoes to warehouses .

He noted that some unlicensed barge operators might be responsible for the illegalities but maintained that the  registered group of bargers are regulated by NIWA and NPA.

The operator argued that the ban will not hold because traffic would increase along the corridors, saying that customs action negates trade facilitation and revenue drive of government agencies would suffer setbacks.

Stakeholders at various fora have called on the federal government to regulate and monitor  movement of barges on the waterways over issues bothering on national security.

Recall that the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria had called on the relevant agencies of the government to monitor barge operational activities

By Roland Ekama