The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has lauded the West Africa Container Terminal for its investment in automation.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Akutah Ukeyima, gave the commendation during his recent visit to the terminal in Onne Port, Rivers State.
He described the terminal as one of the most modern terminals in Nigeria, while also stating that the level of automation in the terminal was very high and was the only way of encouraging the ease of doing business.
He expressed satisfaction over the WACT’s Container Freight Station, which promotes the exportation of non-oil products and aids the consolidation of export cargoes, stuffing, and unstuffing of import and export containers.
The NSC boss stated that the major concern of the government was to lower the cost of export and import business “so that it would not impact more on the consumer and the exporter but rather reduce the cost to impact positively on the economy”.
According to Ukeyima, the Federal Government is engaging in implementing rail connectivity to minimise the cost of haulage transportation for investors.
He further assured the terminal of regular support and collaboration.
“I am satisfied with the level of investment I am seeing on the ground and the services they are offering and the government on our part would continue to move this sector forward.
“The government is committed to growing this sector and we must do everything that is needed to support the sector,’’ he stated.
A statement explained that the CEO of APM Terminals Nigeria, owner of WACT, Frederik Klinke, noted that the company believed in the Nigerian economy and had made additional investments of over $112m in the facility.
“We fully support and want to help facilitate the export drive that the government is pushing very successfully and that is the background of the millions of investments that are seen in our handling equipment and the Container Freight Station, which is, indeed, one of the ways we can directly impact the ability of exporters to bring their goods easier to the market’’
