Marina coastline not licensed for barging- Barge Operators

Peter Olaniyi

The Vice president of Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), Mr Olubunmi Olumekun, has said that barge operators were not expected to operate along the Marina coastline.

Olumekun stated this while briefing journalists when the operators visited the management of the Nigeria Port Authority over the burning of the NPA headquarters by hoodlums.

You will recall that the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government had on September 15th ordered the stoppage of barge operations along the Marina coastline.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, and the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, gave the stop-work order while inspecting activities around the coastline.

The public officers described the activities as “unwholesome, shocking and unacceptable.”

The Vice President,while giving an update on seizure of barge operators licenses, explained that Marina was not licensed for barging.

He explained, “When we say license, license is given by the NPA based on your jetty. I don’t think NPA would ever licence anyone on the Marina because the Marina is not meant for barging.

“Barge operations are meant for mile 2 axis, Ikorodu, Badagry, Maza-maza. I think the Marina was not licensed by anybody, we should correct that.”

Speaking on the level of destruction of the NPA headquarters, the BOAN boss expressed worry that the destruction will be funded by stakeholders.

He said, “We need to know that when we are destroying it, we are destroying our own properties. This property was built by our taxes and our own efforts. This destruction will be replaced by our own taxes, our own money.”

Olumekun noted that barging has come to stay and the essence of barging is for export. He asked the government to lend support to the operators and invest in the operations.