Shettima Inaugurates $115m APM Terminals Upgrade

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WACT In Onne  Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday officially inaugurated a $115 million upgrade project at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne, Rivers State. According to WACT, the project will enhance the terminal’s capacity, efficiency, and overall contribution to Nigeria’s maritime industry, reinforcing the firm’s role as a key logistics hub in West Africa. The container terminal also said the investment underscores APM Terminals’ unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic growth and solidifies its position as a key trade hub in West Africa. With the upgrade, APM Terminals reaffirms 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), Prof. Babatunde Bolaji Bernard; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Olufemi Oloruntola; Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi; the managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) represented by the executive director Marine and Operations,  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 the personal assistant represented to the president on Subnational Infrastructure (Office of the Vice President), Musaddiq Mustapha, commended APM Terminals for its massive investment in WACT and assured the company that the Federal Government will continue to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He said the $115 million investment in the WACT upgrade will further enhance service delivery at the port and attract more vessels to the port. “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 added, “Nigeria will continue collaborating with APM Terminals in the long term to create an environment where businesses participating in global trade can thrive,” said the vice president. “The upgrade project is a testament to APM Terminals’ vision of lifting standards of efficiency, reliability, and local excellence in Nigeria. It encompasses a wide-ranging transformation, including extensive yard expansion, state-of-the-art equipment acquisition, and a modern office complex. New Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC), Rubber Tyre Gantries (RTG), and advanced Cargo Handling Equipment (CHE) will significantly reduce turnaround time. A superior operating model revolutionises efficiency at the quay, yard, and gate, setting new benchmarks in service delivery. This investment will introduce an innovative auto gate system and advanced data centre, lifting WACT’s operational efficiency to a new standard. The self-service kiosks have also been upgraded to elevate customer experience,” the company said.The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, who also commended APM Terminals for the massive investment in WACT, assured that the Ministry will continue to support terminal operators in modernising the port and reducing the cost of doing business at the nation’s gateway. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the WACT upgrade will support the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) ‘s efforts 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 commented, “This project demonstrates 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 would 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 commendable and is a shining example of foreign direct investment into our nation’s economy.”  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 lifts 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 strengthening partnerships with the Nigerian government to lift global trade.”