APM Terminals Apapa has called for a concerted and localised response to address supply chain challenges such as congestion, delays and fluctuating freight costs, to ensure Nigeria’s ports remain competitive.
The Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, stated this while speaking recently at the company’s Partners’ Engagement Forum in Lagos, a yearly event that brings together key players in the supply chain, including port operators, government agencies, shipping lines, importers, exporters, and freight forwarders.
Klinke said the supply chain issues are not unique to Nigeria, reiterating the terminals’ commitment to strengthening collaboration across the maritime sector to improve operational efficiency, accelerate cargo clearance, and boost Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
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.
The Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen, underlined the role of stakeholder collaboration in achieving a more seamless port ecosystem.
Describing customer feedback and suggestions as essential to identifying bottlenecks and implementing solutions. Knudsen highlighted improvement in cargo turnaround time, which includes the regular rail freight services between Apapa and Moniya, expansion of the terminal’s examination yard, upgrades to container scanning and inspection processes, greater investment in barge operations and the creation of bespoke export packages to speed up clearance for Nigerian exporters.
Knudsen stressed that progress in these areas could only be sustained if all parties in the logistics chain worked in close alignment. Speaking at a panel discussion titled: ‘Terminal Progress and Future Outlook’, government agencies operating at the ports outlined measures they are implementing to support faster cargo clearance.
The Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex Apapa, Lawal Adebowale, revealed that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is deepening channels to accommodate larger vessels, upgrading berth infrastructure, and enhancing pilot training to meet the demands of modern shipping.
Also, the Director of Port Inspection at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Olaniran Olakunle, explained that the agency’s automated product administration and monitoring system now provides an end-to-end online process for the registration and clearance of drugs, food products and medical devices, significantly reducing manual delays.
On his part, the Comptroller of the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Babatunde Olomu, represented by Assistant Comptroller Abubakar Usman, emphasised that faster clearance can only be achieved when importers and clearing agents comply fully with documentation and regulatory requirements.
