BARGE ACCIDENT: STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF AGENCIES HELMSMEN
***Accuse them of negligence
*** say there was no regulatory architecture prior to the commencement of barge operations
By Mcanthony ONUOHA
Following a barge accident that occurred on the 6th of March, 2021, along KLT/Mile 2- Maza Maza water channels, where six(6) 40ft containers, said to contain (STC) electronics ( brand new LED TV sets) valued at Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.) went down the deep, stakeholders have called for urgent resignation of heads of agencies in the sector.
In a joint World Press Conference addressed by seven different trade Associations, namely,
Shippers Association of Lagos (SAL), Ndigboamaka Progressives (Traders) Association, Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN), Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Congregation of Registered Freight Forwarding Practitioners of Nigeria (CREFFPON), Justice and People-Care Foundation (JPF), and Sea Empowerment and Research Center, in Lagos, on Monday, the 15th of March, 2021, accused heads of agencies of gross negligence calling for their urgent resignation.
Though in a joint statement, the joint bodies agreed that in recent times, without the intervention of barge operators amid the reported ailing port congestion, chaotic port access roads, the corrupt practices therein, etc, that the port situation would have been compounded. But maintained that the prevailing situation notwithstanding, is never a leeway or a suggestion that Barge operations should thrive on the premise of carefree and negligence, nor professionalism jettisoned,nor operational abuses, impunity, high-handedness condoned or regulatory obligations compromised at will.
The professional bodies lamented that the necessary caution or adequate measures aimed at protecting cargo was grossly neglected and thereby called for the resignation of the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, and the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways (NIWA), saying that in a sane environment, someone would have voluntarily resigned from office for failing in his duties, but it is not so in an atmosphere where corrupt practices thrive and even the perpetrators go unpunished or in most cases, celebrated.
The professional bodies also condemned a system whereby Shippers and importers are not put on notice before their cargoes are diverted to off-dock terminals, insisting their consent be sought first and opportunity given for them to re-enter into local contractual obligations and terms with regards to the local diversion of their shipments via trucks or barges. Adding that such agreement will afford them the opportunity to renegotiate appropriate insurance risks coverage as well as reasonable and competitive freight/trucking and handling charges, regretting that all local arrangement is carried out without the consent of the cargo owner, including all manner of extra charges and levies that are slammed on them.
However, the professional bodies at the joint World Press Conference coordinated by the Former National President of NAGAFF, Dr. Eugene Nweke, stated the following as their position on the Barge Accident of 6th March, 2021.
That “trade are highly chocked and excessively charged, not on the wishes of the Federal Government but on the conspiracy of cabals and syndicated operations. The multiplier effect is inflation and high cost of imported goods at the market overt, and the consuming public is at the receiving end”.
“The Federal Government must take the bull by the horn and do the needful. The need for a legislative and firm economic regulation in the maritime (port) Industry cannot be over emphasised”.
“The high cost of living in the country has its own contributory shares from the inadequately regulated port environment via actions and inactions. Government has a duty to show leadership in this regard”.
“We want the report of investigation undertaken by NIMASA to be made public as soon as possible”.
“We hereby demand for full compensation for the cargo owners. As the condition and situation leading to the loss of cargoes is not theirs. The operational arrangement was skewed against them, the non firm supervision and monitoring by the agencies of Government is not their fault, as they relied on the leadership to safeguard their investment, hence, regulatory objectives and administration failed them”.
“Hence the three regulatory agencies mentioned by BARGE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (BOAN), for their overlapping functions, are all under one control and supervisory ministry, Ministry of Transport. We therefore request Ministry of Transport to direct for the immediate compensation for all losses incurred by the affected shippers and importers”.
“We demand that Heads of the three (3) agencies vested with these regulatory responsibilities namely, NPA, NIWA, and NIMASA resign forthwith”.
” Above all, the Transport Ministry should step up its supervisory roles in ports operations”, the statements read.
*Proudly MAJAN !
