APM Terminals Champions Collaboration to Boost Port Efficiency, Trade Facilitation 

Eromosele Abiodun

APM Terminals Apapa, has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration across the maritime sector to improve operational efficiency, accelerate cargo clearance, and boost Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.

The firm made the call during its Partners’ Engagement Forum in Lagos, an annual event bringing together key players in the supply chain, including port operators, government agencies, shipping lines, importers, exporters, and freight forwarders.

Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, opened the forum by expressing gratitude to customers for their trust and continued business despite the challenges affecting the global supply chain. He noted that many of these difficulties, such as congestion, delays, and fluctuating freight costs, are not unique to Nigeria but require a concerted, localised response to ensure the country’s ports remain competitive.

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.

Terminal Manager, Steen Knudsen, echoed these sentiments, underlining the role of stakeholder collaboration in achieving a more seamless port ecosystem. He encouraged customers to continue sharing feedback and suggestions, describing such engagement as essential to identifying bottlenecks and implementing solutions.

Knudsen pointed to recent achievements, such as the launch of regular rail freight services between Apapa and Moniya three times a week, “which have significantly reduced road congestion and improved cargo turnaround times. Other improvements include the expansion of the terminal’s examination yard, upgrades to container scanning and inspection processes, greater investment in barge operations to move cargo by water, and the creation of bespoke export packages to speed up clearance for Nigerian exporters. He stressed that progress in these areas could only be sustained if all parties in the logistics chain worked in close alignment.”

Speaking earlier, APM Terminals Apapa Commercial Manager, Kayode Daniel, spoke passionately about the central role of customers in shaping the company’s trajectory. He said APM Terminals views its clients not merely as service users but as active partners in growth and innovation, remarking that each milestone reached is proof of what can be achieved when there is mutual trust and shared vision.

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.