• Experts seek proper barge operations to attract investments

The recent sunken barge at Mile 2 Jetty in Lagos, loaded with suspected toxic industrial chemicals, has sparked nationwide concern over lapses in safety, environmental oversight and regulatory framework compliance of vessels operating on Nigeria’s inland waterways

Stakeholders argued that poor enforcement of vessel inspection, unregulated barge licensing, safety certification, and weak cargo handling regulations has created loopholes that allow unsafe and poorly maintained barges to operate on the inland waterways unchecked, costing the country over N80 billion in capital flight.

Findings showed that the sunken barge released its hazardous chemical content into the water, threatening the surrounding environment, marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and the Federal Ministry of Environment have come under scrutiny for their apparent silence and slow response to the incident.

This incident has underscored the urgent need for an investigation into several key areas, including the ownership and registration of the sunken barge, the cause of the sinking and the nature of the chemicals involved.

A government source cited the NESREA Act 2007, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act 1992, and the Harmful Wastes (Special Criminal Provisions) Act 1988, which stated that any activity that poses a risk of pollution or ecological damage requires immediate enforcement action.

The source stressed that, however, regulatory coordination remains weak, leaving waterways vulnerable to accidents and pollution. Head of Research at Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC), Dr Eugene Nweke, lamented that the absence of clear regulatory authority and coordination among multiple agencies has left the nation’s barge operations prone to accidents, pollution and inefficiency.

To address these lapses, Nweke urged the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to establish a Directorate of Barge Operations and Logistics Services (DBOLS) and its regulatory infrastructure, which would require an administrative setup cost of between N8 billion and N10 billion, covering staffing, digital systems and safety equipment across six major inland maritime zones.

The proposed directorate, according to Nweke, would be responsible for the mandatory registration, licensing, inspection and certification of all commercial barges and tugs; enforcement of safety and environmental standards; real-time vessel tracking using automatic identification system (AIS)/Global Positioning System (GPS) systems; supervision of terminal licensing and accident reporting, and capacity building through training and certification programmes.

To Nweke, once operational, the DBOLS projects could generate between N60 billion and N80 billion in yearly revenue through vessel registration and inspection fees, cargo movement levies, inland waterways terminal licensing and environmental compliance charges.

Also, the structured operation of barges, Nweke added, could directly and indirectly create 45,000 to 60,000 new jobs within three to five years, including 10,000 skilled technical and maritime safety positions, 25,000 dockside, mechanical and logistics roles, and 15,000 ancillary jobs in local supply-chain sectors such as repair, fueling, catering and waste management.

Nweke further noted that safer and more efficient inland logistics could attract between N250 billion to N300 billion in private investments over the next decade from barge manufacturers, shipping companies, dredging firms and terminal operators.

He also highlighted the environmental gains, stating that every 100 cargo-laden barges can remove up to 1,000 trucks from Nigerian highways, potentially cutting road maintenance costs and carbon emissions by as much as 30 per cent yearly.

Citing international best practices, Nweke referenced India’s Inland Waterways Authority (IWAI), which oversees 111 national waterways and supports over 100,000 jobs; the United States (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers, which manages inland navigation with a $3 billion yearly maintenance budget; and the Netherlands’ Port of Rotterdam, where over 50 per cent of hinterland cargo moves by barge.

Also cited is China’s Yangtze River Commission, which integrates digital monitoring and eco-friendly barge operations in a $150 billion trade corridor.

“Barge operations are the arteries of our inland maritime economy. With proper regulation, they can decongest highways, reduce transport costs by up to 40 per cent, create tens of thousands of jobs and protect our marine ecosystems,” Nweke stated. Nweke urged the government to fast-track the National Barge Modernisation and Regulation Framework (NBMRF) under the Blue Economy agenda.

The government source urged NIWA to take a frontline role in mitigating the Mile 2 pollution crisis and prevent future occurrences by strictly enforcing safety and environmental standards for vessels and jetties, ensuring swift pollution response and cleanup operations, and strengthening inspection and compliance mechanisms to guarantee vessels are seaworthy and fit for cargo handling standards.

Experts recommend upgrading of jetty and channels for safer navigation as well as adopting technology to monitor vessel movements, track cargo, and improve emergency response systems.

They also tasked NESREA on robust monitoring and enforcement capabilities, identify responsible parties for incidents like the sunken barge for liability and remediation and provide guidelines for environmental audits in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Association of Bonded Terminal Operators of Nigeria (ABTON), Haruna Omolajomo, expressed deep concern about the continuous silence from regulatory authorities despite the potential hazards posed by the chemical seepage.

Omolajomo questioned the absence of proactive surveillance by agencies responsible for monitoring the inland waterways, including the Marine Police, NIMASA, NIWA and the Nigeria Customs Marine Unit.

“It is very painful to read that chemical pollution is threatening the people of Mile 2 while the concerned authorities remain silent. I just want to believe they are unaware of this menace. Are they no longer patrolling our waterways?” Omolajomo queried.

He further urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), NIMASA, NIWA, Marine Police and other relevant authorities to strengthen environmental monitoring and enforce safety laws at all jetties across the country to prevent similar environmental disasters.