Shippers’ Council lauds WACT’s investment in process automation

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Pius Akutah, has commended West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) for its high level of investment, automation, and services to facilitate the Federal Government’s export drive.

Akutah stated this during his recent visit to the terminal in Onne, Rivers State.

Speaking during the visit, Akutah described the terminal as one of the most modern facilities in Nigerian port, while also stating that its level of automation is very high and the only way to encourage the ease of doing business.

Akutah expressed satisfaction over the WACT Container Freight Station which promotes the exportation of non-oil products while aiding the consolidation of export cargoes, stuffing and unstuffing of import and export containers.

He also stated that the major concern of the government is to lower the cost of export and import business so that it will not impact more on the consumer and the exporter, but rather reduce the cost to impact the economy positively.

According to him, the Federal Government is engaging in implementing rail connectivity to minimise the cost of haulage transportation for investors.

He further assured the terminal operators of regular support and collaboration, adding that the government is committed to growing the sector.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, said the company strongly believes in the Nigerian economy and has made additional investments of over $112 million in operating the facility to now being a state-of-the-art container terminal.

“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 is seen in our handling equipment and also 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,’’ Klinke said.