By Bon Peters,Port Harcourt
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday officially inaugurated a comprehensive USD 115 million upgrade project at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne, Rivers State.
Our Correspondent reports that this monumental investment underscores APM Terminals’ unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic growth and solidifies its position as a key trade hub in West Africa.
With this monumental upgrade, APM Terminals has reaffirmed its role as a key player in lifting global trade and creating opportunities for communities across Nigeria and West Africa.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, represented by his Senior Adviser (Technical), Professor Babatunde Bolaji Bernard; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Olufemi Oloruntola; Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi; the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) represented by the Executive Director Marine and Operations, Engr. Olalekan Badmus; the Executive Secretary/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barrister Pius Akutah, and the Managing Director of the Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), Alhaji Bamanga Usman Jada, among several others.
The Vice President, who was represented by the Personal Assistant to the President on Subnational Infrastructure (Office of the Vice President), Musaddiq Mustapha, commended APM Terminals for its huge investment in WACT, even as he assured the company that the Federal Government would continue to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. He emphasized that the USD115 million investment in the WACT upgrade would further enhance service delivery at the port, and also attract more vessels to the Port.
In his words, “Nigeria is a country of significant opportunities. APM Terminals’ investment in WACT is a clear sign of the company’s strong commitment to developing ports that are a lifeline to global trade.” He noted that, “Nigeria will continue collaborating with APM Terminals in the long term to create an environment where businesses participating in global trade can thrive.”
The upgrade project was a testament to APM Terminals’ vision of lifting standards of efficiency, reliability, and local excellence in Nigeria. It also encompassed a wide-ranging transformation, including extensive yard expansion, state-of-the-art equipment acquisition, and a modern office complex.
Others include, New Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC), Rubber Tyre Gantries (RTG), and advanced Cargo Handling Equipment (CHE) which would significantly reduce vessel turnaround time, even as a superior operating model would revolutionize efficiency at the quay, yard, and gate, setting new benchmarks in service delivery.
This investment our correspondent also reports would introduce an innovative auto gate system and advanced data centre, lifting WACT’s operational efficiency to a new standard including the self-service kiosks which have also been upgraded to elevate customer experience.
On his part, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, who also commended APM Terminals for the huge investment in WACT, assured that the Ministry will continue to support terminal operators to modernise the port and reduce the cost of doing business at the nation’s gateway.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the WACT upgrade would support the efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to generate more revenue, facilitate trade and curtail the smuggling of harmful and dangerous goods into Nigeria.
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, represented by the Executive Director Marine & Operations, Engr. Olalekan Badmus said , “This project is a clear demonstration of our dedication to ensuring our Eastern ports, such as Onne, play a more central role in our national maritime strategy. This will ultimately improve our national maritime traffic. First and foremost, I will like to extend our profound gratitude and commendation to the management of West Africa Container Terminal for their substantial investment in this vital infrastructure. Your commitment to advancing Nigeria’s maritime sector is truly commendable and serves as a shining example of foreign direct investment into our nation’s economy.”
The expanded yard space, which has almost doubled, not only provides for bigger space but also lifts safety standards through optimised container stacking, minimising the risk of collisions. State-of-the-art access control and CCTV systems create an unparalleled secure environment for cargo and personnel. The updated Traffic Management plan also contributes to a safer environment. A groundbreaking 1MW solar power generation facility installed at WACT showcases APM Terminals’ dedication to decarbonising its operations.
During the inauguration, Olaf Gelhausen, Chief Operating Officer of APM Terminals, said, “This USD 115 million investment is a bold statement of our faith in Nigeria’s economic potential. As Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, Nigeria stands on the brink of remarkable growth. We are proud to be catalysts in this journey, transforming WACT into a world-class facility that is lifting standards to drive trade and prosperity across West Africa.” He added, “The transformative upgrade project at WACT embodies APM Terminals’ vision of lifting standards in the industry. We’re enhancing capacity, redefining customer experience, and forging stronger partnerships with the Nigerian government to lift global trade.”
APM Terminals is deeply committed to Nigeria, with its two container terminals in Lagos and Onne handling about half of the containers going in and out of Nigeria. WACT is one of the best-performing terminals in West Africa, offering customers safe, reliable, and efficient services.
APM Terminals has also intensified its talks with the Nigerian administration and Port authority to make its plans for future investments concrete. A proposal to invest more than USD 500 million in the future is built on the foundation of a long-term partnership. Besides operating highly efficient terminals, the company intends to contribute to the development of the local communities and bring opportunities for growth and new prospects for Nigerians.
