Two new multimillion-dollar state-of-the-art Mobile Harbor
Cranes (MHCs) acquired by global terminal operator, APM Terminals
Apapa Port, Lagos, were on Thursday inaugurated by the Managing
Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala
Usman.
The cranes are part of APM Terminals’ additional investment of
USD80 million (about N33.6 billion) for the year 2020-2021. This
brings the total investment by the company in Apapa since 2006 to
USD438million (about N184billion), representing the highest by any
private terminal operator in Nigeria.
Ms. Bala Usman said the ports were concessioned by the Federal
Government to improve port efficiency and free government resources
for other developmental purposes.
She said cargo volumes at the port have witnessed a steady rise
due to favourable government policies, adding that NPA has
continued to engage with private terminal operators to rise to the
challenge of the increased cargo traffic.
The engagement with the operators, according to her, is yielding
tangible results as evidenced by the commissioning of the two new
Mobile Harbor Cranes, among others.
She said as the ports become more efficient, efforts must be
made to enhance cargo delivery processes and free the ports of
longstanding cargo.
“We are engaging with the Nigeria Customs Service to remove
overtime containers from the port to free vital space for incoming
ones.
“We are also working with terminal operators to increase the
barging of containers to take pressure off the roads. We have noted
a significant growth in barging capacity and operations with more
containers moved daily by barges from the port,” she said.
Speaking earlier, the Head of Terminals, Africa and Middle East
region of APM Terminals, David Skov, said before now, the company
had invested USD358million (N150.36billion) in port infrastructure
development, information technology upgrades and modern cargo
handling equipment to improve both quayside and landside
operations.
“The additional investment we are making is to handle the
increased trade volumes into Nigeria. Trade in Nigeria is growing
due to the many favorable efforts and policies of the Federal
government of Nigeria including but not limited to the policy on
ease of doing business; stabilization of foreign exchange; closure
of the land borders which has increased the use of our sea ports;
and diversification of the economy,” he said.
“The additional investments will create capacity to handle the
growth in the economy to support the Federal government’s efforts
on trade growth and improve service delivery across the logistic
chain in Nigeria.”
He said with the acquisition of the new cranes, the terminal now
operates with a total of 10 Mobile Harbour Cranes; 23 Rubber-Tyred
Gantry Cranes; six Empty Handlers; 48 specialised Truck Terminals,
six Reach Stackers and 11 Forklifts.
The President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN),
Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, who was represented by the union’s Deputy
President-General, Comrade Tonye Harry, praised APM Terminals for
the investment and improving port services in Nigeria.
Other dignitaries at the event include the Managing Director,
APM Terminals Apapa, Martin Jacob; Executive Director, Marine and
Operations of NPA, Onari Brown; the General Manager Marine and
Operations, Captain Jerome Anyugwe; the General Manager Monitoring
and Regultory Service, Mrs. Ugo Madubuike and NPA General Manager,
Security, Surveyor Omotesho. Others are the Port Manager, Lagos
Port Complex Apapa, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu; and the Port Manager,
Tin Can Island Port, Garba Umar.
Two new multimillion-dollar state-of-the-art Mobile Harbor
Cranes (MHCs) acquired by global terminal operator, APM Terminals
Apapa Port, Lagos, were on Thursday inaugurated by the Managing
Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala
Usman.
The cranes are part of APM Terminals’ additional investment of
USD80 million (about N33.6 billion) for the year 2020-2021. This
brings the total investment by the company in Apapa since 2006 to
USD438million (about N184billion), representing the highest by any
private terminal operator in Nigeria.
Ms. Bala Usman said the ports were concessioned by the Federal
Government to improve port efficiency and free government resources
for other developmental purposes.
She said cargo volumes at the port have witnessed a steady rise
due to favourable government policies, adding that NPA has
continued to engage with private terminal operators to rise to the
challenge of the increased cargo traffic.
The engagement with the operators, according to her, is yielding
tangible results as evidenced by the commissioning of the two new
Mobile Harbor Cranes, among others.
She said as the ports become more efficient, efforts must be
made to enhance cargo delivery processes and free the ports of
longstanding cargo.
“We are engaging with the Nigeria Customs Service to remove
overtime containers from the port to free vital space for incoming
ones.
“We are also working with terminal operators to increase the
barging of containers to take pressure off the roads. We have noted
a significant growth in barging capacity and operations with more
containers moved daily by barges from the port,” she said.
Speaking earlier, the Head of Terminals, Africa and Middle East
region of APM Terminals, David Skov, said before now, the company
had invested USD358million (N150.36billion) in port infrastructure
development, information technology upgrades and modern cargo
handling equipment to improve both quayside and landside
operations.
“The additional investment we are making is to handle the
increased trade volumes into Nigeria. Trade in Nigeria is growing
due to the many favorable efforts and policies of the Federal
government of Nigeria including but not limited to the policy on
ease of doing business; stabilization of foreign exchange; closure
of the land borders which has increased the use of our sea ports;
and diversification of the economy,” he said.
“The additional investments will create capacity to handle the
growth in the economy to support the Federal government’s efforts
on trade growth and improve service delivery across the logistic
chain in Nigeria.”
He said with the acquisition of the new cranes, the terminal now
operates with a total of 10 Mobile Harbour Cranes; 23 Rubber-Tyred
Gantry Cranes; six Empty Handlers; 48 specialised Truck Terminals,
six Reach Stackers and 11 Forklifts.
The President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN),
Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, who was represented by the union’s Deputy
President-General, Comrade Tonye Harry, praised APM Terminals for
the investment and improving port services in Nigeria.
Other dignitaries at the event include the Managing Director,
APM Terminals Apapa, Martin Jacob; Executive Director, Marine and
Operations of NPA, Onari Brown; the General Manager Marine and
Operations, Captain Jerome Anyugwe; the General Manager Monitoring
and Regultory Service, Mrs. Ugo Madubuike and NPA General Manager,
Security, Surveyor Omotesho. Others are the Port Manager, Lagos
Port Complex Apapa, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu; and the Port Manager,
Tin Can Island Port, Garba Umar.