BOAN praises Oyetola, Shippers’ Council over resolution of barge operators’ concerns

By Adebayo Obajemu

The Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN) has commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) for their roles in resolving issues affecting indigenous barge operators in the country’s maritime sector.

The commendation followed the conclusion of an investigation into complaints earlier raised by the association regarding operational challenges and practices that it said were hindering the participation of local operators in barge services within Nigerian ports.

Speaking during the recently concluded 2026 Second Quarter Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement in Lagos, the Managing Director of Nurwags Integrated Services Ltd, Nura Wagani, lauded the minister for what he described as a timely intervention that helped address the concerns of indigenous operators.

According to Wagani, Oyetola’s decision to order an investigation into the allegations demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting fair competition and protecting investments made by local players in the maritime logistics value chain.

He also praised the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, led by its Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pius Akutah, for conducting what he described as a comprehensive and impartial inquiry into the issues raised by the association.

The concerns were first brought to the attention of the minister during the 2026 First Quarter Citizens and Stakeholders’ Engagement, Sectoral Performance Review and Ministerial Management Retreat organised by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Lagos.

At the event, Wagani had appealed to the minister to intervene in what BOAN described as operational bottlenecks negatively affecting indigenous barge operators and limiting their ability to compete effectively within the sector.

Responding to the concerns, Oyetola directed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to investigate the allegations and recommend appropriate measures to address them.

Following the completion of the investigation, BOAN said it was satisfied with the outcome and confirmed that the issues it had raised had been adequately addressed.

The association expressed optimism that the resolution of the matter would enhance operational efficiency, improve the business environment for indigenous operators and deepen local participation in barge transportation across the nation’s waterways.

BOAN further reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with key stakeholders in the maritime industry, including the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

The association said such collaboration would be critical to sustaining safety standards, regulatory compliance and long-term growth within Nigeria’s barge and inland waterways transport sector.