NIGERIA's barge industry figures it can double the cargo volume it moves to and from the Port of lagos to its origins and destinations if the government would only help clear the way, reports Port Harcourt's The Tide.
The barge men called on the government to remove hazardous wrecks from the waters, as well as provide navigational aids to ensure safety and smooth sailing of barges.
'Barging cargo from the port has contributed to reducing perennial gridlock on the road by taking some volume off the road, said Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) president Edeme Kelikume.
Mr Kelikume listed regulatory, navigation, infrastructural and human capacity as some of the challenges militating against commercial barging operations in the country.
'Barging is a viable alternative to road transportation, particularly in the wake of the perennial traffic gridlock along the Apapa port corridor which had resulted to our nation losing huge earnings due to port congestion and poor vessel turn around,' he said.
'The future looks bright for the industry to rise up to contribute to revamping our economy by improving the maritime sector and boosting revenue especially in the export sector, as the nation prepares to take full advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA),' said Mr Kelikume.
'We are all aware that barge operation serves as efficient means of transport to move containerised cargoes from the Port in Lagos to designated points through barges using waterways,' he said.
SeaNews Turkey
The barge men called on the government to remove hazardous wrecks from the waters, as well as provide navigational aids to ensure safety and smooth sailing of barges.
'Barging cargo from the port has contributed to reducing perennial gridlock on the road by taking some volume off the road, said Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) president Edeme Kelikume.
Mr Kelikume listed regulatory, navigation, infrastructural and human capacity as some of the challenges militating against commercial barging operations in the country.
'Barging is a viable alternative to road transportation, particularly in the wake of the perennial traffic gridlock along the Apapa port corridor which had resulted to our nation losing huge earnings due to port congestion and poor vessel turn around,' he said.
'The future looks bright for the industry to rise up to contribute to revamping our economy by improving the maritime sector and boosting revenue especially in the export sector, as the nation prepares to take full advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA),' said Mr Kelikume.
'We are all aware that barge operation serves as efficient means of transport to move containerised cargoes from the Port in Lagos to designated points through barges using waterways,' he said.
SeaNews Turkey
