Govt Agencies Jostle To Regulate Barge Operations On Inland Waterways

By Roland Ekama , Lagos

There are indications that some government agencies in the maritime sector have concluded plans to commence regulations and enforcement on the activities of barges and tugboats operation in the nation’s inland waterways.

Findings revealed that a circular has been sent out to some of the agencies in mapping out modalities toward ensuring safety and security of crew and crafts, aboard the crafts.

Part of the modalities it was also gathered is to seek for more revenue collections for government and national security.

Recall that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)recently affirmed its readiness to sanction barge and tug boat operators, who fail to register with the Authority, saying it will not be allow such operators to operate on Nigerian inland waters from January 2020.

While the authority said that the move is to curb incessant accidents caused by illegal dredging company and some rickety boats, operators complained that some of the accidents was not caused by them.

Nonetheless, a top official of the Nigerian Customs Service at a forum recently, explained that the barge operations in brown waters must be regulated for security and safety reasons.

He noted that the emergence of barges and tugboats operation in high volume of transported cargoes within the waterway has what it takes to create employment for Nigerians and to further generate revenue for the country.

“All the maritime agencies have one role or the other to play as far this operation is concern and that is why we all need to come together and find out how we can play our respective roles to ensure no duplication of functions this time around.”

“We don’t know the safety measures put in place to protect the cargoes and crew from point A to B.

” We don’t know the sea worthy conditions of the water crafts and how secured they are “,he stated.

Similarly, it was also gathered that the circular has been sent to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , Customs, Marine Police and NIWA to further discuss the way forward in achieving the regulations.