APM Terminals’ West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has reached a significant milestone with the official inauguration of its new Container Freight Station (CFS) at Onne Port, Rivers State. This unveiling marks a pivotal moment in WACT’s strategic vision of positioning itself as the ‘gateway to Eastern Nigeria and beyond’, while simultaneously offering a comprehensive suite of logistics solutions to empower Nigerian businesses and enhance efficiency and accessibility.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the new Container Freight Station in Onne Port, Rivers State, Jeethu Jose, the Managing Director of WACT, emphasized the pivotal role of the facility as a central hub for various trade-related activities. Jose highlighted its function in seamlessly connecting businesses in Eastern Nigeria to the global marketplace and vice versa, while supporting streamlined processes for import and export operations, ultimately reducing time and cost for customers.
The expertly crafted solutions at the CFS are tailored to expedite the movement of key Nigerian commodities such as agro products and solid minerals, ensuring Just-in-Time (JIT) service delivery through efficient stuffing and swift transfers to the port. Additionally, the facility offers reliable warehousing services for both import and export cargo across diverse sectors, providing a one-stop-shop for customers to consolidate their exports.
WACT’s Commercial Manager, Ismaila Badjie, described the new facility as the first of its kind in Onne Port, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness and efficiency in minimizing waste of time for customers. Badjie highlighted the CFS’s role in supporting non-oil exports, promoting the availability of natural produce abroad, and contributing to job creation both directly and indirectly.
The Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt II Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Baba Imam, commended WACT for its commitment to trade facilitation and consistent value addition. Imam underscored the transformative impact of the new facility on trade facilitation, expressing Customs’ commitment to supporting WACT in enhancing service delivery at the port.
WACT’s journey began in 2006 when it commenced commercial operations as the first greenfield container terminal in Nigeria under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Situated within the Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne Port, Rivers State, WACT has evolved into the most efficient gateway to markets outside the Lagos area and a major gateway to East Nigeria.
In 2020, WACT announced a further investment of USD 115 million in the Onne Terminal Upgrade Project (OTUP). This comprehensive upgrade includes the acquisition of additional Mobile Harbour Cranes, Rubber Tyre Gantry Cranes, Reach Stackers, terminal trucks and trailers, container empty handlers, as well as the deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity. Furthermore, the upgrade encompasses the expansion of the current yard, establishment of a new workshop, installation of a new terminal auto gate, modernization of offices, and integration of state-of-the-art technology.
The final phase of the upgrade, scheduled for completion this year, signifies WACT’s unwavering commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, capacity, and service delivery. The commissioning ceremony of the CFS was attended by numerous stakeholders, including representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), shipping lines, shippers, and freight forwarders, among others, underscoring the collective efforts towards advancing Nigeria’s maritime sector and fostering economic growth and development.
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