NIWA: Promoting Deployment of Barges in Cargo Delivery
NIWA MD
By Francis Ugwoke
In advanced ports of the world, barge operation remains one of the transport modes for moving goods to different locations . Barges operate in low draught waters. In Nigeria, barges are in use but with a lot of challenges. Many Nigerian shippers for security reasons are usually not comfortable to use barges in movement of their goods for long distances. The issue of insecurity in the country has been pointed out by the shippers. Those who attempt engaging the services of barge operators often prepare for enough security apparatus to battle armed robbery gangs or pirates operating in different riverine areas where these goods will be passing.
However, the federal government recently identified the importance of barges in movement of goods from Lagos ports to different parts of the country using the River Niger. One of the routes is the Lagos –Onitsha. Specifically, the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, had called on Nigerian shippers based in the South East to use barges in moving some of their goods in Lagos ports instead of using road transport. This was however not taken seriously in view of the risk involved. The importers did not want to take the risk because of the huge investment involved The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) had pointed out the issue of inadequate security to guarantee the movement of the goods. There were over 1000 containers that would have been moved as at last year. BOAN had pointed out the high cost involved in hiring security operatives to accompany such goods.
However, NIWA recently made daring moves when it facilitated the transportation of tiles to Onitsha River port from Lagos. The goods were owned by the West African Ceramic Limited, a leading manufacturer of tiles in Nigeria under the brand name ‘Royal’ in Ajaokuta, Kogi state. With barges, tiles worth 22 trailers were moved with barges to Onitsha River Port, Anambra state. NIWA provided escort for the company which used its barge M.V Vega to move the goods. NIWA’s tugboat, including escort from Inland Waterways Police were involved to ensure security for the goods. The Minister of Transportation, Engineer Mua’zu Jaji Sambo, had at a recent event in Lagos also identified the need to use barges in evacuating goods out of the ports. Sambo had given expressed order to the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ensure that cargo delivery out of the Lekki Deep Seaport cannot be by road because of the gridlock it will cause. Only rail and barges will be used in evacuating goods.
For us, it is a good development that the Ministry of Transportation is involved in promoting the use of barges in Nigeria. The Ministry should therefore continue to support NIWA in standardizing barge operation in Nigeria. Members of BOAN who are involved in movement of such goods should be partnered in this exercise. As a matter of fact, BOAN members should be assisted with regular police presence on the waterways apart from the escorts accompanying the goods. In this project, NIWA needs to engage the Police and Nigerian Navy as well for fortified security against pirates and armed robbery gangs operating in the river-rine areas.
NIWA should also enforce insurance cover for every cargo being moved on barges by operators. This will secure the investment of shippers in case of any loss during movement. If this step is promoted, shippers, whether importers or exporters will benefit . Besides, it will further boost activities on river ports in different parts of the country. It will provide more jobs and even revenues. The other benefit is the ability of the exercise to decongest Lagos ports as well as increase volume of business for barge operators and river ports.
In advanced ports of the world, barge operation remains one of the transport modes for moving goods to different locations . Barges operate in low draught waters. In Nigeria, barges are in use but with a lot of challenges. Many Nigerian shippers for security reasons are usually not comfortable to use barges in movement of their goods for long distances. The issue of insecurity in the country has been pointed out by the shippers. Those who attempt engaging the services of barge operators often prepare for enough security apparatus to battle armed robbery gangs or pirates operating in different riverine areas where these goods will be passing.
However, the federal government recently identified the importance of barges in movement of goods from Lagos ports to different parts of the country using the River Niger. One of the routes is the Lagos –Onitsha. Specifically, the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, had called on Nigerian shippers based in the South East to use barges in moving some of their goods in Lagos ports instead of using road transport. This was however not taken seriously in view of the risk involved. The importers did not want to take the risk because of the huge investment involved The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) had pointed out the issue of inadequate security to guarantee the movement of the goods. There were over 1000 containers that would have been moved as at last year. BOAN had pointed out the high cost involved in hiring security operatives to accompany such goods.
However, NIWA recently made daring moves when it facilitated the transportation of tiles to Onitsha River port from Lagos. The goods were owned by the West African Ceramic Limited, a leading manufacturer of tiles in Nigeria under the brand name ‘Royal’ in Ajaokuta, Kogi state. With barges, tiles worth 22 trailers were moved with barges to Onitsha River Port, Anambra state. NIWA provided escort for the company which used its barge M.V Vega to move the goods. NIWA’s tugboat, including escort from Inland Waterways Police were involved to ensure security for the goods. The Minister of Transportation, Engineer Mua’zu Jaji Sambo, had at a recent event in Lagos also identified the need to use barges in evacuating goods out of the ports. Sambo had given expressed order to the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to ensure that cargo delivery out of the Lekki Deep Seaport cannot be by road because of the gridlock it will cause. Only rail and barges will be used in evacuating goods.
For us, it is a good development that the Ministry of Transportation is involved in promoting the use of barges in Nigeria. The Ministry should therefore continue to support NIWA in standardizing barge operation in Nigeria. Members of BOAN who are involved in movement of such goods should be partnered in this exercise. As a matter of fact, BOAN members should be assisted with regular police presence on the waterways apart from the escorts accompanying the goods. In this project, NIWA needs to engage the Police and Nigerian Navy as well for fortified security against pirates and armed robbery gangs operating in the river-rine areas.
NIWA should also enforce insurance cover for every cargo being moved on barges by operators. This will secure the investment of shippers in case of any loss during movement. If this step is promoted, shippers, whether importers or exporters will benefit . Besides, it will further boost activities on river ports in different parts of the country. It will provide more jobs and even revenues. The other benefit is the ability of the exercise to decongest Lagos ports as well as increase volume of business for barge operators and river ports.
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