Mr Edeme Kelikume is the Chief Executive Officer of Connect Rail Services and the President of Barge Operators of Nigeria. In this interview with Oluyinka Onigbinde, he speaks on issues confronting the movement of cargoes by barges, relationship with terminal operators and other sundry issues.
What informed the thought to use barges to move containers?
The situation on ground; the traffic, the congestion and all that, so we have to look for alternative to move the containers by barges
There are reports that, at times when moving the containers some do fall inside the water, what are you doing to curb these?
We have had only one incident where container fell inside water. We have done almost about 100, 000 containers in the past one year with barges. If one falls out of 100,000, I think that's quite small compared to what have been done. However, safety and security measures have been put in place by barge association, the operators, NPA, NIWA and all stakeholders, especially to ensure zero accident.
Talking about NIWA, what’s the relationship between you and the waterways Authority?
Our relationship with NIWA is very cordial. We have heard a meeting with NIWA to discuss where we can collaborate with them to drive enforcement of professional operators in the waterways. So our relationship is smooth and cordial.
We learnt that APMT and some other terminals are frustrating barge operators as some of them have not given support to barge operators to move cargoes from the terminal
That's correct, not just APMT, most of the terminals, but I will single out Port and Cargo, Port and Cargo and to a lesser extent ENL terminal, that has given full support to barge operation.
Port and Cargo has been one of the two terminals that gave us full support by dedicating cranes to barge operations and we must give them kudos for that.
Initially, APMT used to give barge operators full support until recently when they had their own challenges and barges are not calling at APMT as frequently as they ought to.
So Presently APMT is not giving full support to Barge operators?
APMT is not giving enough window, they have not given access. There is more demand for APMT to grant barges but they have their reasons why they are not giving enough access to barge operators to move cargo by barge.
As an association, have you written to NPA about this development?
The association has written to NPA and also written to APMT and NPA is working on that and I learnt that the MD of NPA visited APMT and these are some of the issues (perhaps) they discussed to see how they can ease evacuation and decongest the port.
Is there security onboard while moving barges from the terminal to Ikorodu or their final destination?
Different barge operators have different mode of operations. For those carrying sensitive cargo, for us, we always engage our own private security and when it involves sensitive cargoes, we involve NIWA Police and also Maritime Police to escort the cargo.
So what is the financial implication of this?
Of course, it will add to the cost of doing business but you know safety and security is more important than financial gains.
We learnt that some barge operators allege multiple charges by the various regulatory bodies, what’s your reaction to this?
There have been claims by operators that there are multiple charges by various regulatory agencies and the association is currently working on harmonizing those charges currently.
What are some of the challenges facing the association?
Like most Nigerian businesses, you have lot of challenges; access to finance is the major constraint for most businesses. The banks are beginning to understand the nature of the business. We also have access to the right skills and NIMASA is providing some support in that direction, but there is still a big gap. The industry has grown sporadically over the past couple of months and that is a big concern. We also have safety and security issues, which is challenging and which will continue as long as we have road transportation, for instance there will be security and safety for road transportation, it now behooves on the association and other operators to ensure that measures are put in place to forestall this.
How many containers do you move by barges and how many times a day?
Different barges move different cargoes and containers from the ports to different location. Averagely, I would say every day, we hit may be about 300 to 500 moves daily.
But are they insurance covered?
All license barge operators have insurance cover, because it is one of the requirements to get license as a barge operator.
What are your expectations for the maritime Industry for the year 2020?
We expect more consolidation and we want Government to look into inland waterways as a mode of sustainable transportation for the country especially for heavy cargo. We expect the Government to start working on the dredging of the Upper Niger, so that we can extend this barge services, we are doing currently in Lagos upward down to Lokoja where Nothern-bound traffic can originate and terminate from.
Is your association already in talks with the Lekki deep-sea port to see to the movement of containers by barges when it begins operation?
Currently we have sea going barges that visit the Dangote jetty at the Lekki deep sea port area; we also set up a barge jetty on the lagoon side of Lekki, so we are working on that already.
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