Business
Barge Operators Face Job Losses Amid Decline in Apapa Port Operations
Checks by the Nigerian Tribune have revealed that a downturn in barge operations at Apapa Port, Nigeria’s busiest seaport, has left many barge operators considering downsizing or laying off workers as their vessels remain idle.
President of the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), Bunmi Olumekun, expressed concerns over the situation, citing the lack of berthing space for barges at APM Terminals, the container terminal operator at Apapa Port.
In an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Olumekun stated, “We recently met with the management of APM Terminals to discuss barge operations at Apapa Port, which is currently very low. Our members have been complaining about the lack of patronage from APM Terminals for barging activities.”
He further explained that BOAN members could evacuate up to 4,000 containers daily if provided with a dedicated berthing space. However, the absence of such space at APM Terminals has significantly hindered their operations.
“We need a dedicated berth at APM Terminals to ensure that we are not displaced when a bigger vessel arrives. If we have a dedicated berth, barge operators can call at the port anytime, load, and leave without delays,” Olumekun added.
According to him, APM Terminals attributed the current situation to congestion at the port corridors, which has slowed down container evacuation and created a backlog of vessels waiting to berth. The terminal operator assured BOAN that it would consider allocating a berth for barge operations once congestion issues improve.
Another critical issue raised at the meeting with APM Terminals was the cost disparity between barge handling charges for import and export containers. BOAN argued that export charges were significantly higher than import charges, creating an uneven playing field in the industry.
“The commercial team at APM Terminals agreed to escalate the issue to their management for review,” Olumekun revealed. However, the terminal operator explained that barge operations incur higher costs than other logistics modes due to the use of specialized equipment, such as 450-ton cranes.
To address these challenges, BOAN and APM Terminals have scheduled a follow-up meeting for April 15, 2025. By then, APM Terminals expects some improvement in port congestion, which will determine whether BOAN’s concerns can be addressed effectively.
Culled from the Nigerian Tribune