Uche Cecil Izuora
There are dangers looming in Nigerian waterways following several barges mainly operating without regulation.
Maritime experts have therefore sounded alarms over the rapid rise of unregistered and poorly constructed barges operating on Nigerian waterways, warning that this trend jeopardizes maritime safety, port operations, and the reputation of Nigeria’s shipping industry.
Captain Henry Gumwalk, a master mariner, criticized the proliferation of barges operating without proper registration or classification, revealing that many are fabricated by welders without undergoing necessary safety checks or possessing essential documents such as stability booklets.
Gumwalk emphasized that vessels must hold valid class certificates to ensure seaworthiness, and failure to enforce these regulations raises the risk of accidents and damages Nigeria’s global shipping image. He also faulted charterers who hire such barges without proper due diligence, increasing the likelihood of avoidable disasters.
Dr. Chris Ebare, a chartered ship broker, highlighted regulatory gaps due to unclear jurisdiction among the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). He urged that maritime regulatory responsibilities should be assigned based on competence and capacity, noting the need for effective enforcement through NIMASA’s Registration and Monitoring Unit.
Marine Engineer and Surveyor, Matthew Alalade, echoed concerns over regulatory evasion by barge operators and called for stricter enforcement by NIMASA. He insisted that all barges comply with classification standards set by recognized societies and that those classification bodies be held accountable.
Beyond safety issues, economic challenges have compounded the difficulties for indigenous barge operators. Bunmi Olumekun, President of the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), reported that limitations such as insufficient berthing space at seaports and declining patronage are forcing some operators to sell their barges or relocate to regions with better prospects. The influx of substandard vessels, he warned, threatens the survival of a sector once vital in alleviating road congestion around Apapa and Tin Can ports.