The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has called on the federal government to encourage barging activities as part of measures to decongest the port corridors.
President General of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) affiliate union, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, made the call in Lagos during a town hall meeting put together by JournalNG.
The maiden town hall meeting had the theme, ‘Towards Hitch-Free Port Operations In Nigeria’.
Adeyanju, who was represented by a Deputy President General of the union, Comrade Boniface Udoh, noted that a lot still needed to be done as very long-term measures to ensure that the port corridors experience the free flow of traffic to the terminals, jetties, and ports.
He stated that barging activities would aid trade facilitation and create a seamless flow of cargo clearance and movement.
According to him, barging activities could provide succor for the existing gridlock despite the ongoing road construction along the Apapa Oshodi Expressway noting that barge operations should be perceived as a tool for the conveyance of cargo and freeing the roads for other users.
He stated: “As a responsible social partner, we have called on the governments and its regulatory agencies to take urgent action and undertake any means to cause a reduction in the traffic on our port access roads.
“We note especially the need to urgently initiate palliative measures in motion on the Mile 2/Coconut, Tin Can Port axis.
