The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, on Wednesday reiterated APM Terminals commitment to invest USD500 million in expanding its areas of operations in Nigeria.
The assurances were given while playing host to a high-level delegation from the APM Terminals on a visit to the office of the Honourable Minister in Abuja.
The delegation, led by Mr. Peter Wikstrom, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of APM Terminals, included Mr. Igor Van den Essen, President, Africa/Europe; Mr. Frederik Klinke, CEO, APM Terminals Nigeria; and Mr. Courage Obadagbonyi, CFO, APM Terminals Nigeria.
Speaking during the meeting in Abuja, the Honourable Minister welcomed the commitment by APM Terminals, describing the company as a model for terminal operations in the country.
“We are pleased with the quality of infrastructure that APM Terminals has delivered at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa. The standard you have set should be the minimum benchmark for other terminal operators across the country,” Oyetola said.
“This fresh USD500 million investments must align with our broader agenda to modernize the Western ports and enhance port competitiveness. The Eastern ports will also not be left behind — we are determined to ensure a holistic upgrade of all Nigerian ports.”
The Honourable Minister emphasized the Federal Government’s drive to deepen draft levels at the Lagos ports to a minimum of 16 metres, which will allow for the berthing of larger vessels, improve turnaround time, and reduce shipping costs.
He further disclosed that the government is actively pursuing full port modernization and automation, working in close collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to deploy scanners and eliminate the heavy reliance on physical cargo examinations.
“With our modernization efforts, we are confident that Nigerian ports will soon rank among the best in the world. Our goal is to create a maritime environment that is efficient, transparent, and attractive to both local and international investors,” the Minister added.
In his remarks, Mr. Peter Wikstrom expressed enthusiasm about the ongoing transformation in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
“This is my first visit to Nigeria, and I’m impressed by the scale of opportunity here,” he said.
He said Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy, is a strategic investment destination for APM Terminals.
Wikstrom said APM Terminals has operated in Nigeria for over 20 years, and sees a promising future for the country.
He affirmed that the fresh investment will be channelled towards expanding terminal capacity, enhancing cargo handling efficiency, and supporting the Federal Government’s goal of attracting larger vessels to Nigerian ports.
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
