Nigeria’s largest container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa, has inaugurated a new digitalised administrative building as part of its $438 million investment in port development in Nigeria.
The Global Chief Operating Officer (COO) of APM Terminals, Mr Keith Svendsen, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.
Svendsen said that the new smart building was in line with APM Terminals’ commitment of introducing new innovations to help both shipping lines and landside customers achieve improved supply chain efficiency.
He said that it would also achieve flexibility in a cost-effective manner.
According to Svendsen, who was in Nigeria for the inauguration, the new building will set new standard for port operation in Nigeria.
“What is more important is to make sure that we are ready for the future. A port is one of the infrastructure that take years to plan and build.
“This is why we are working to make it better and get ready for the future,” Svendsen said.
The APM Terminals Chief said the technology embedded in the new building would improve container handling operations and processing in the terminal.
He said that it was particularly in enabling electronic invoicing, electronic receipt and online payment processes that allowed customers fast-track their documentation.
Also, the Country Managing Director of APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr Klaus Laursen, said APM Terminals Apapa had invested a total of $438 million on enabling developing infrastructure, acquiring equipment and improving processes at the terminal.
“In APM Terminals, we have led with a strong ambition to become a world-class terminal operator. We enable access to jobs, products, foods, and medicine that allow people to create and live better.
“The aim is to make APM Terminals Apapa a better trade and logistics zone.
“We just have to be better and improve everyday by investing in our people and infrastructure in order to have a smarter and digitalised business that serves the need of our customers and the country at large,” he said.
The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, commended APM Terminals for raising the standards of port operation in Nigeria and for adding immense value to the port over the past 16 years.
Bello-Koko, represented by Assistant General Manager, Operations, Mr Ayo Durowaiye, said that it was gratifying to note that APM Terminals was also paying attention to exports particularly now that the Federal Government was focused on growing the non-oil and agro business sectors.
The Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller-General Modupe Aremu, represented by Comptroller Queen Ogbudu, commended APM Terminals Apapa for setting the pace in terminal operations in Nigeria.
The Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex Apapa, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu; the Commissioner of Police Apapa Port, Mr Jonathan Towuru, the chief executives of shipping lines as well as the representatives of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Apapa Customs Command and the Police Maritime Command, were among guests at the event.
