Blue Economy
Barge Operators Demand Level Playing Field, Push for Sweeping Port Reforms
Barge Operators Demand Level Playing Field, Push for Sweeping Port Reforms
BOAN tables urgent regulatory agenda before Nigerian Shippers’ Council, warning that indigenous operators face systemic disadvantage
By Emetena Ikuku | Waterways News | Lagos
The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria has thrown down the gauntlet before regulators, calling for immediate and sweeping reforms to level the competitive landscape for indigenous barge operators in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
In a formal submission presented to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council on April 8, 2026, BOAN — working in technical partnership with the Sea Empowerment & Research Center — laid out a pointed reform agenda following a stakeholder engagement convened under directive from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
The association did not mince words. While commending the Council for what it called a timely intervention, BOAN warned that indigenous operators are being squeezed by access barriers, opaque tariff structures, and what it described as a demonstrable imbalance in how local and foreign-linked operators are treated across Nigerian ports.
“Barging has evolved beyond a peripheral activity,” the association stated, positioning it as a critical backbone of port logistics — one that plays a pivotal role in decongesting seaports, supporting multimodal transport, and tightening supply chain efficiency across the country.
At the heart of BOAN’s concerns is the question of fairness. The association pointed to growing instances of restricted or unequal access to terminals and berthing windows, arguing that the situation distorts competition and undermines operational efficiency. It also flagged the absence of standardized tariff and operational frameworks as a source of persistent uncertainty and unnecessary cost pressure for local operators.
Most pointed was its concern over preferential treatment. BOAN alleged that foreign-linked operators, in some cases, appear to enjoy conditions not available to their indigenous counterparts — a situation it said cannot be allowed to persist if Nigeria’s blue economy ambitions are to be taken seriously.
The association was careful, however, to frame its submission not as a push for protectionism, but as a demand for consistency. It noted that indigenous operators have demonstrated both the capacity and technical competence to compete — including in barge-enabled liquid cargo transportation — but stressed that an enabling environment is the missing ingredient.
BOAN’s demands to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council are clear: enforce non-discriminatory access protocols across all terminals; standardize and publish tariff structures affecting barge operations; strengthen regulatory oversight to guarantee fair competition; and formally recognize barging as critical logistics infrastructure within Nigeria’s port system.
The association argued that the stakes extend well beyond the industry itself. A properly supported barging sector, it contended, would take significant pressure off Nigeria’s road network, drive down logistics costs, generate employment, and reinforce the country’s positioning within the blue economy.
BOAN closed its submission with a pledge of continued collaboration with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, signaling its intent to remain at the table as reforms are shaped.