Tinubu to inaugurate $115m WACT terminal in Rivers
President Bola Tinubu is set to officially commission the upgraded West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne, Rivers State, on September 4, 2024. The unprecedented $115 million (approximately N178.2 billion) upgrade project at WACT, operated by APM Terminals in Onne, Rivers State, commenced in 2021.
The Managing Director of WACT, Jeethu Jose, remarked that the completion of the upgrade marked a significant milestone, and is a game-changer in the history of Nigerian ports.
He stated that the $115 million investment further underscores APM Terminals’ trust and confidence in the Nigerian economy, contributing to its mission of improving lives, while enhancing global trade.
Jose added that WACT is Nigeria’s first greenfield container terminal developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, highlighting the terminal’s strategic importance within the Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne
The WACT boss further noted that the terminal has grown to become the premier gateway for accessing markets beyond the Lagos region, playing a vital role in connecting Eastern Nigeria’s growing economy to the rest of the world.
He said the terminal’s significance was further solidified on August 15, 2020, when WACT made history by receiving the largest container vessel ever to berth at any Nigerian port.
He said that the vessel, Maersk Stadelhorn, measures 300 metres in length overall and 48.2 metres in beam, with a capacity to carry approximately 10,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) of containers.
The commissioning ceremony is expected to be a high-profile event, with several dignitaries in attendance, including governors, ministers, and heads of key government agencies, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Representatives from the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), shipping companies, freight forwarding associations, and the import-export community will also be present to witness this landmark occasion.
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