Nigeria’s largest container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa, has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration across the maritime sector to improve operational efficiency, accelerate cargo clearance, and boost Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
The call came during the company’s Partners’ Engagement Forum in Lagos, an annual event bringing together key players in the supply chain, including port operators, government agencies, shipping lines, importers, exporters, and freight forwarders.
Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, opened the forum by expressing gratitude to customers for their trust and continued business despite the challenges affecting the global supply chain. He noted that many of these difficulties, such as congestion, delays, and fluctuating freight costs, are not unique to Nigeria but require a concerted, localised response to ensure the country’s ports remain competitive.
Klinke reaffirmed APM Terminals’ long-term commitment to Nigeria, pledging sustained investments in physical infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and advanced digital tools to deliver faster, more transparent, and more customer-focused services.
Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen, echoed these sentiments, underlining the role of stakeholder collaboration in achieving a more seamless port ecosystem. He encouraged customers to continue sharing feedback and suggestions, describing such engagement as essential to identifying bottlenecks and implementing solutions.
Knudsen pointed to recent achievements, such as the launch of regular rail freight services between Apapa and Moniya three times a week, which have significantly reduced road congestion and improved cargo turnaround times.
Other improvements include the expansion of the terminal’s examination yard, upgrades to container scanning and inspection processes, greater investment in barge operations to move cargo by water, and the creation of bespoke export packages to speed up clearance for Nigerian exporters. He stressed that progress in these areas could only be sustained if all parties in the logistics chain worked in close alignment.
Knudsen also highlighted how APM Terminals Apapa has expanded its online customer portal to allow clients to initiate transactions, track cargo movements, and receive real-time updates from the comfort of their offices or homes.
