SEREC Calls For Immediate Institutional Reform Of Nigeria’s Barge Operations

SEREC Calls For Immediate Institutional Reform Of Nigeria’s Barge Operations
— Advocates Creation of Dedicated Directorate under Marine and Blue Economy Ministry

Fwdr Dr Eugene Nweke Head, Research, SEREC

By Frank Odinukaeze

The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently reform Nigeria’s barge operations system by establishing a dedicated Directorate of Barge Operations and Logistics Services (DBOLS) under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The call followed a recent environmental incident involving a sunken barge and chemical pollution at the Mile 2 Jetty, Lagos. The incident, worsened by heavy rainfall, has led to the leakage of toxic industrial chemicals into surrounding waterways, posing severe threats to marine life and public health.
According to verified reports from Harboursandport.com and other maritime monitors, the pollution originated from chemical stockpiles at Clarion Shipping Terminal and nearby facilities, with no visible regulatory response observed.
SEREC described the development as a “critical wake-up call” exposing the weak coordination of barge operations among multiple agencies, leading to lapses in safety, pollution control, and emergency response.
Proposed Directorate of Barge Operations
In its advocacy statement, Fwdr.Eigene Nweke ,Head of Research of the organisation ,SEREC urged the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to create the Directorate of Barge Operations and Logistics Services (DBOLS) to strengthen oversight and streamline the inland water transport subsector.
The proposed directorate, according to SEREC, would be responsible for:
Enforcing the registration, inspection, and certification of all commercial barges and tugs.
Establishing national safety and environmental standards for barge operations.
Deploying vessel tracking systems (AIS/GPS) for real-time monitoring.
Supervising terminal licensing, accident reporting, and pollution control.
Driving professional training, certification, and employment in marine logistics.
Economic and Employment Prospects
SEREC’s economic model estimates that setting up the DBOLS would require an initial investment of ₦8–10 billion for staffing, digital systems, and safety infrastructure across six major inland maritime zones.
In return, the centre projects annual revenues of between ₦60 billion and ₦80 billion from vessel registration, cargo movement levies, terminal licensing, and environmental compliance charges.
The reform could also generate up to 60,000 new jobs within three to five years, including technical, dockside, mechanical, and ancillary service roles. Additionally, SEREC projects that safer and more efficient barge logistics could attract ₦250–300 billion in private investments over the next decade.
Environmental benefits are also significant — with every 100 barges potentially removing 1,000 trucks from highways, thereby cutting road maintenance costs and reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 30% annually.
Learning from Global Models
SEREC cited successful international examples of structured inland waterway management, including:
India’s Inland Waterways Authority (IWAI) – managing 111 national waterways and generating over 100,000 logistics jobs.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – overseeing inland navigation with a USD 3 billion annual maintenance budget.
The Netherlands’ Port of Rotterdam – which moves more than half its hinterland cargo via barges.
China’s Yangtze River Commission – employing digital monitoring and eco-friendly barge policies along its USD 150 billion trade corridor.
“These global benchmarks show that Nigeria can transform its inland waterways into a vibrant logistics and economic asset through unified regulation and visionary leadership,” SEREC stated.
Call to Action
The organisation urged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to:
Approve the establishment of the DBOLS;
Appoint a Deputy Director to coordinate immediate regulatory and safety measures;
Create an inter-agency emergency task force to address the Mile 2 pollution; and
Fast-track the National Barge Modernisation and Regulation Framework (NBMRF) under the Blue Economy agenda.
SEREC’s Position
“Barge operations are the arteries of our inland maritime economy,” SEREC said in its closing statement.
“With proper regulation, they can decongest highways, reduce transport costs by up to 40%, create tens of thousands of jobs, and protect our marine ecosystems.”
The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) reiterated its commitment to promoting safe, smart, and sustainable maritime development across Nigeria’s blue economy.