WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria has appointed Courage Obadagbonyi as its first Nigerian Managing Director, marking a significant leadership milestone for the company. His appointment takes effect on July 1, succeeding Jeethu Jose.
The company said the move reflects its commitment to developing leadership from within its global talent pool while maintaining its focus on growth, operational excellence and long-term sustainability.
Obadagbonyi brings more than 20 years of international leadership experience across finance, operations and general management. He has held senior roles at APM Terminals, General Electric and Lafarge, with expertise spanning the oil and gas, power generation, logistics and healthcare sectors.
Before his elevation, he served as Chief Financial Officer for the APM Terminals Nigeria cluster, where he oversaw financial strategy for operations in Nigeria and San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire. He also served as Acting Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa from 2025 until March 2026, further strengthening his operational leadership experience.
Commenting on his appointment, Obadagbonyi said he is focused on building on the company’s existing achievements.
“I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place at WACT. The terminal plays a critical role in connecting businesses in Eastern Nigeria to global markets, and we will continue to focus on safe, reliable and efficient operations,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, described the appointment as a reflection of the company’s emphasis on leadership development and internal talent.
“Across APM Terminals globally, we see strong collaboration and talent development across our teams. This appointment reflects the depth of experience within our organisation and our continued focus on building capabilities that support sustainable growth,” Klinke said.
He added that Nigerian professionals within the company have consistently demonstrated strong leadership, with employees from the Apapa and Onne terminals contributing their expertise internationally while bringing global best practices back to Nigeria.
According to Klinke, Obadagbonyi’s broad experience positions him well to lead WACT through its next phase of operational excellence and value creation.
Outgoing Managing Director Jeethu Jose expressed confidence in the company’s future under the new leadership.
“It has been a privilege to lead WACT during a period of significant progress. The team has built a strong platform for the future, and I am confident in the continued success of the organisation,” he said.
Located in Onne, Rivers State, West Africa Container Terminal (WACT)-APM Terminals is one of Nigeria’s leading container terminals. Since beginning commercial operations in 2006, the terminal has expanded its capacity and modernised its infrastructure to support growing trade volumes.
Its $115 million terminal expansion project, launched in 2020, includes the installation of 600-plug reefer racks, expansion of the container yard, a new maintenance workshop, an automated terminal gate, upgraded office facilities and advanced terminal technology. The investment has enhanced operational efficiency,
