BOAN Deploys Barges For Cargo Movement Outside Lekki Port

As part of ways to sanitize Nigeria’s ports  and reduce gridlocks, Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) has pledged to deploy ocean-going barges to move cargo out of Lekki Port.
The association said the move was to ensure free flow of traffic on the Lekki corridor, when the Deep Seaport commences vessel and cargo operations in September.
Disclosing this to newmen in Lagos, President, BOAN, Hon. Bunmi Olumekun, said  ocean-going barges would move a large volume of cargo in the port and erase possible traffic on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, or the road network leading to the port.
He explained that the recent visit of the association to the port was to facilitate a working relationship with its management.
“The Association is working with the Nigerian Ports Authority and the management of Lekki Deep Sea Port to achieve this”, he said.
Olumekun stated that BOAN will carry out a pilot test on the channels for smooth operations.
The president also refuted allegations that his members did not pay the required Wharf Landing Fees, saying that all members of BOAN operating in the industry pay the fees as against the allegation by the Lagos State Wharf Landing Fees Collecting Authority that barge operators do not pay the fees.
While emphasising that barge operators pay more than expected, he noted that staff of the authority are always available in all the jetties collecting the fees.
He advised the Wharf Landing Authority to beam its searchlights in this direction, rather than blaming barge operators for its revenue losses.
“Their staff are all over the places harassing trucks at a time the economy is in bad shape as exports and imports have dropped sharply by more than 30 percent,” he stated.

By: Chinedu Wosu