APM Terminals’ West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has recorded an important milestone with the formal commissioning of its new Container Freight Station (CFS) in Onne Port, Rivers State.
By providing a full range of logistical solutions to empower Nigerian businesses and further increase efficiency and access, the new facility moves WACT closer to its strategic ambition of becoming the “gateway to Eastern Nigeria and beyond.”
The Managing Director of WACT, Jeethu Jose while speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Monday in Onne Port, Rivers State said the facility will serve as a central hub for various trade-related activities, including interaction with regulatory authorities and seamlessly connect businesses in Eastern Nigeria to the global marketplace and vice versa. He further stated that the facility will support streamlined procedures for export and import activities, saving clients money and time.
According to him, the CFS’s skillfully developed solutions are intended to speed up the transportation of vital Nigerian goods including solid minerals and agricultural items, guaranteeing Just-in-Time (JIT) service delivery via effective stuffing and quick transfers to the port.
He further added that the recently established facility provides a dependable warehousing solution for both import and export goods from various industries.
“The CFS will serve as a one-stop-shop where all our customers can consolidate their exports. The facility will aid the Nigerian government’s drive to promote export and generate forex, which will be beneficial to the country and the economy,” Jose said.
WACT Commercial Manager, Ismaila Badjie, who described the facility as the first of its kind in Onne Port, said,
“The Container Freight Station has a lot of benefits to the customer. It is cost effective and also ensures that there is as little as possible in terms of waste of time. The facility will help the customers in the non-oil exports. This facility will also continue to support and ensure that natural produce are available abroad, and will directly or indirectly aid creation of jobs.”
Comptroller Baba Imam, the Customs Area Controller for the Port Harcourt II Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, also spoke and complimented WACT on the facility and its historic accomplishments at the port.
Imam said, “By constructing this edifice, we will be able to facilitate trade. It entails that WACT is transforming and trying to be consistent in the way and manner they keep adding value, which is a clear manifestation of the kind of commitment they have in trying to be consistent in the transformation agenda they have. From the perspective of Customs, one of the cardinal mandate we have is trade facilitation.”
Established in 2006, the West Africa Container port (WACT) is the first greenfield container port in Nigeria constructed using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concept. At Onne Port, Rivers State, the terminal is situated inside the Oil and Gas Free Zone. It is a significant entrance to East Nigeria and has developed over the years into the most effective gateway to markets outside of the Lagos area.
In 2020, WACT announced a further investment of USD115 million to upgrade the terminal. The upgrade named Onne Terminal Upgrade Project (OTUP) includes the acquisition of three additional Mobile Harbour Cranes, bringing the total in operation to five; 20 Rubber Tyre Gantry Cranes; three Reach Stackers; 13 terminal trucks and trailers and two container empty handlers. It also includes the deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity, as well as expansion of the current yard, new workshop, a new terminal auto gate, modernised offices and state of the art technology.
The final phase of the upgrade is expected to be completed this year.
Numerous stakeholders, including officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), shipping lines, shippers, and freight forwarders, were present during the CFS commissioning event.
