The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has warned that overlapping regulatory mandates, multiplicity of charges, access constraints, rising operational costs and other unresolved structural and policy challenges affecting the barging subsector could undermine the gains in port corridor decongestion and enhancing cargo evacuation.

According to a statement issued by the Head of Research, SEREC, Dr Eugene Nweke, the call follows concerns raised by the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) over mounting operational pressures, including what operators describe as regulatory “arm-twisting” by authorities.

The research centre said the barge industry has evolved into a strategic logistics backbone supporting port operations. warning that any disruptions to its operations efficiency could have far-reaching implications for trade facilitation and economic stability.

SEREC acknowledged the critical role of regulatory agencies in ensuring safety, compliance and environmental protection, but stressed the need for a more coordinated and balanced approach that supports, rather than inadvertently constraints, the sector widely regarded as essential to port efficiency and national logistics.

The research centre’s review highlighted the absence of a unified national framework for barge operations, overlapping roles among multiple regulatory bodies, and increasing compliance costs as key concerns, while also underscoring the importance of barges in reducing pressure on the country’s congested port infrastructure.

SEREC observed the strategic importance of barges in mitigating port congestion and the need to strengthen safety without imposing abrupt or disruptive measures.

The Centre stressed that while concerns raised by operators deserve careful attention, regulatory authorities must also enforce safety standards and maintain order within inland waterways operations.

“This is not a question of choosing between regulation and operations; it is about achieving smart regulation that enables efficiency while safeguarding standards,” Nweke added.

To address these challenges, SEREC proposed a series of reforms, including immediate regulatory harmonisation across agencies to eliminate duplication and conflicting directives, the creation of a one-stop digital clearance system for barge operations approvals, documentation, and compliance processes, as well as the introduction of transparent and standardised charges, thereby consolidating multiple levies into a clearly defined and publicly accessible tariff regime.

Other recommendations include the adoption of a phased safety compliance framework to allow operators to meet safety standards without undue disruption, institutionalised stakeholder engagement between regulators and barge operators to address emerging issues collaboratively.

SEREC further proposed formal recognition of barging as critical infrastructure to position barge operations within national transport and Blue Economy strategies to ensure policy protection and investment support.

The research group emphasised that reforms must be carefully structured to avoid stifling operators.

SEREC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policy reforms that enhance efficiency, promote local participation and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime and Blue Economy sectors, while calling for a balanced framework that ensures both regulatory compliance and commercial viability.