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Tag: APM Terminals

  • APM Terminals, LAWMA clean up Apapa 

    Residents and commuters in Apapa can heave a sigh of relief as APM Terminals, Apapa, in partnership with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), has embarked on a cleanup to clear the refuse dumps littering the Apapa-Wharf Road and its environs.

    Port Complex, Apapa Manager, Mrs. Fumilayo Olotu; Controller, Apapa Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Muhammed Abba-Kura; Apapa Local Government Chairman, Mr. Adele Owolabi and APM Terminals workers participated in the event.

    Speaking after the flagged off of the exercise on Wharf Road, APM Terminals Managing Director Mr. Martin Jacob said the cleanup initiative was part of the company’s  ‘Go Green’ campaign on environmental degradation and encouraging sustainable waste disposal practices.

    Jacob expressed the company’s commitment to a cleaner port environment. He charged port users to stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the port access road.

    “We can complain about what is happening but nothing will change, if people don’t change their attitude. So, we need to forget the past and focus on what to do to make a difference and achieve a sustainable clean port environment. We, as a corporate organisation, will help as much as we can to make sure that happens,” Jacob said.

    Mrs. Olotu, who described the refuse as an eyesore, said all hands must be on deck to clear them.

    She said: “Apapa used to be a place of pride in those days; so activities around the port community should not make us lose the heritage we had in the past. We have discussed the need to partner with the local government to maintain the cleanness of our environment. We must engage the truckers and in their own language so that they have a buy-in and key into the project so that the heaps of refuse do not return.”

    Owolabi applauded APM Terminals for coming up with the initiative.

    He said the refuse on the port access roads had become a major challenge for the council. He appealed to other corporate organisations to emulate APM Terminals.

    He said: “We appreciate the gesture by APM Terminals and we encourage everyone around to do same thing. It is a right step in the right direction giving back to the community by evacuating the refuse. It should be sustainable and in sustaining it, there should be sensitisation and advocacy campaign to these truck drivers and motor boys against throwing wastes on the road.

    “We need the collaboration of every corporate organisation within Apapa. By the time we come together and everybody contributes their own quota, we will make a uniform force for the community.”

    LAWMA Executive Director, Ibrahim Ojuboni, while calling for the sustainability of the exercise, lauded APM Terminals for the initiative, urging other corporate organisations to emulate such gesture.

     

  • APM Terminals celebrates International Women’s Day, expresses commitment to gender diversity

    APM Terminals Apapa Limited, said it is commited to driving a diverse organisation with regards to gender, as female employees of the company joined other women across the world to mark the 2018 International Women’s Day.

    The International Women’s Day is observed globally to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day, which is celebrated every March 8, also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

    The 2018 International Women’s Day celebration, which has the theme, “Press for Progress”, was celebrated by APM Terminals with female students of the Randle Senior Secondary School, Apapa, where career talks were also presented by female staff of APM Terminals.

    Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Martin Jacob, while speaking at the event, said the company wants more women to join the organisation.

    He said: “The workplace is continuously changing; we need both men and women to create a motivating and performance-driven place to work which we believe is essential to our success. We also believe that diversity and inclusion are key levers to strengthen business results in the market we operate in and a necessary action for access to future and wider talent pools.

    “Our ultimate goal is to build an organizational culture where everyone; women and men can reach their full potential,” Mr Jacob, who was represented by the Head of Government, Stakeholder Relations and Communications of APM Terminals Apapa, Mr Austin Fischer said.

    The Head of Human Resources, APM Terminals Africa, Ms Bunmi Pratt, said the company chose to mark the celebration with the female students to encourage them pursue their desired careers in life.

    She said, “For us it is not only about gender but diversity. We are encouraging women to participate in the activities of APM Terminals. With things like this, when we come out, we let ladies know that it is not just for the men but it is for everybody.

    “We are really trying to encourage women to climb up the ladder. We have not yet succeeded to get a crane operator but it is part of our plan that we have female crane operators. Already, we have women working in engineering right now,” she said.

    President, Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT), Hajia Aisha Ali Ibrahim, who doubles as the Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, commended APM Terminals for supporting the course of women even as she enjoined other terminal operators to identify and promote gender equality.

    “Last year, APM Terminals organised a programme on International Women’s Day, I was impressed and even now I am more impressed that the company has chosen to reach out to little girls in secondary school. So wherever we are, we will continue to press for progress.

    “All terminal operators, not just APM Terminals, should also support the course of women and identify with our programmes,” she said.

    The Principal of Randle Secondary School Apapa, Abimbola Sowemimo was full of appreciation to APM Terminals for identifying with the school to mark the Internationals Women’s Day. He promised that the school would continue to give necessary recognition to women and promote women’s right in the society.

  • APM Terminals waives charges on containers for IDPs

    Nigeria’s leading container terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa Limited, at the weekend waived handling and storage charges running into several millions of naira on a container load of fish which was donated by the Federal Government to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Yobe State.

    The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), had directed that the 40-feet container laden with Tilapia fish and confiscated by the Apapa Area Command of NCS be released to the Nigeria Army Corps of Supply and Transport (NACST) for onward delivery to Yobe State for the use of IDPs.

    According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), an Internally Displaced Person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country’s borders.

    More than 40 million people have become displaced worldwide within their own country as a result of violence, with majority of the new displacements occurring in Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq.

    When contacted, the Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Martin Jacob said APM Terminals is always willing to support the host government in any country it operates in bringing succour to its citizens as a way of giving back.

    Jacob also said APM Terminals is supporting the Nigerian government’s food export drive through the provision of modern cold chain transportation alternatives for farmers in the agricultural centers of northern Nigeria to bring fresh produce intact and unspoiled to market centres in Lagos.

    He said the initiative could save an estimated 15 million metric tons of perishable goods, including onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, okra, ginger and carrots, which are lost annually due to poor logistics infrastructure and high transportation costs.

    APM Terminals Apapa is the largest container facility by capacity of the three serving Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city and business centre.

     

     

    It is also the largest container terminal operation in West Africa, having doubled container traffic after concession began in 2006, with dramatically improved productivity.

    A USD350 million investment and expansion programme was announced for APM Terminals Apapa since 2006. The company currently operates the Apapa and WACT Onne facilities in Nigeria, with plans to develop a third at Badagry.

  • Customs intercepts container of Tilapia fish from Turkey

    The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted a 40ft container of frozen Tilapia fish valued at N22.1 million imported from Turkey.

    The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Muhammad Jibrin, said this on Monday when he led newsmen to APM Terminals, Apapa, where the container was intercepted.

    Jibrin said that the container No: DFOU6122880, was discovered during scanning.

    He said that the importer made a false declaration that the container was laden with apples.

    “Upon scanning, officers discovered the container was containing 2,700 cartons of frozen Tilapia fish from Turkey.

    “The aforementioned fish species is under restriction.

    “More so, importers of allowable species of fish are expected to obtain licence,  and permit before such importation into the country.

    “We have scanners that are working but most of the scanners are inadequate for operations,’’ Jibrin said.

    He said that the command had opened communication with Agriculture and Plant Quarantine Service and the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in the spirit of collaboration.

    Jibrin said that the command had zero tolerance for smuggling and false declaration in line with the policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali.

    He said that the command would continue to uncover and stop any attempt at breaching the law as regards imports and exports transactions through the command.

    The controller, however, advised stakeholders relating with Customs service to be law-abiding “as no stone will be left unturned in enforcing government fiscal policy regulations’’.

    According to him, the command usually engaged stakeholders in interactive session monthly to ensure that both Customs and stakeholders remained committed to government’s policies relating to clearance of goods at the ports.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government on Thursday, noted that smugglers were beginning to flood the markets with harmful frozen fish illegally imported into the country through the land borders.

    The Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, said this at the Abuja Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

    The minister said that those involved in the act were undermining the efforts of government despite the fish importation policy and ban on frozen farmed fish importation into the country.

    He said that the circulation of unhealthy fish and fishery products in Nigerian market had resulted in grave health implications such as kidney disease and cancer.

    “It has become necessary for the Federal Government through the FMARD to address the Nigerian public on the sale of smuggled unhealthy frozen fish, especially farmed tilapia, in Nigeria.

    “These smuggled frozen fish are very harmful to the health of Nigerians” he said.

    The minister warned those involved in the illegal importation to desist, as anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    He said that the government had been collaborating with countries in the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria Customs Service, Maritime Police, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Agriculture Quarantine Service.

    “The ministry is using this medium to warn all those involved, colluding, aiding and abetting these nefarious activities to stop or face the full wrath of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Importation of fish without licence attracts five-year imprisonment or a fine of $250,000, or both, in addition to forfeiture and destruction of the vessel and its products.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has put in place measures to arrest, detain and prosecute offenders as provided in the Sea Fisheries Act Cap S4 laws of the Federation 2004,’’ the minister said.

  • Badagry seaport will be turning point for economic growth – Ambode

    Badagry seaport will be turning point for economic growth – Ambode

    …Says funding for 10-Lane Mile 2-Badagry highway expansion at advanced stage

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed optimism that the $2.6bn Badagry Deep Sea Port Project would be a major turning point that would go a long way to bring about global growth to Nigerian waters and by extension the nation’s economy.

    The Governor, who spoke shortly after another successful meeting with the executive management of APM Terminals (Maersk Group), represented by Mr. Morten Engelstoft, CEO designate of APM Terminals in Copenhagen, Denmark, on the advancement of the Badagry Deep Sea Port, said the project would also complement the emergence of Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa.

    He said the meeting, held alongside Chairman, APM Terminal, Apapa, Chief Ernest Shonekan, was the culmination of a process which begun as far back as 2012 and which has been taken on with renewed vigour by his administration and has thus resulted in this significant foreign investment estimated at over US $2.6billion into Lagos.

    “This port and free zone, situated on over 1000 hectares is expected to be the largest deep sea port in Africa upon its completion. The project will include a container terminal, oil & gas services and a liquid bulk terminal, with general cargo and Ro-Ro facilities,” Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor while lauding the investors for staying the course with the project, expected to generate 500,000 direct and indirect jobs upon completion, pledged his government’s commitment to ensuring the interests of the host communities alongside a sustainable regeneration and urban renewal of the area.

    Alluding to the fact that the project would be a major infrastructural development to the Badagry axis, Governor Ambode also confirmed that talks are well advanced to reach financial close on Lot 3 of the Mile 2 to Seme 10-lane highway expansion, saying that it would in no small way complement the ongoing Badagry Deep Sea Port Project.

    The Governor, who said the Lot 3 would run from Okokomaiko-Badagry-Seme, affirmed the commitment of his administration to providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the State.

    On his part, Engelstoft reiterated the Group’s commitment to the Badagry Deep Sea Port and assured the Governor that all business streams of the Maersk Group would be involved in ensuring the success of the Project.

    It would be recalled that Governor Ambode about three weeks ago in London, met with representatives of APM Terminals led by the Head of Africa, Mr. Peter Volkjaer Jorgensen.

    The meeting, held in London also had Country Manager, APM Terminal, Mr. David Skov; Chairman APM Terminal Apapa, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Chairman, Supreme Offshore Limited, Mr. Chidi Ofong; Mr. Koye Edu; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye; Permanent Secretary, Lagos Global, Mr. Olajide Bashorun and Country Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mr. Uyi Akpata.

     

     

  • Ambode restates commitment to Badagry Deep Sea port project

    Ambode restates commitment to Badagry Deep Sea port project

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday met with representatives of APM Terminals to advance the development of the Badagry Deep Sea Port project, restating his administration’s key strategic imperative to creating a friendly environment to encourage private sector participation in driving economic development in the State.

    Governor Ambode at the meeting which took place in London, United Kingdom, said the Badagry Deep Sea Port Project with an estimated investment of over $2.3billion would address the infrastructure enhancement and urban renewal agenda of the State.

    Governor Ambode, who expressed appreciation on the resolve of the investors to stay the course with the project, said the facility on completion would generate over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    He assured that the State Government would spare nothing to see the project to realization, while pledging that the interests of the host communities within the location of the project will be protected.

    ‎He said the Badagry Deep Sea Port, on completion, will be the biggest in the African continent as it is expected to sit on a land space of over 1000 hectares.

    Speaking on behalf of APM Terminals, Head of Africa, Mr. Peter Volkjaer Jorgensen said the Group was strongly committed to partnering the State Government on the project.

    The meeting had in attendance Country Manager, APM Terminal, Mr. David Skov; Chairman APM Terminal Apapa, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Head of Africa, APM Terminal, Peter Volkjaer Jorgensen; Chairman, Supreme Offshore Limited, Mr. Chidi Ofong; Mr. Koye Edu; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye; Permanent Secretary, Lagos Global, Mr. Olajide Bashorun and Country Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mr. Uyi Akpata.

  • APM Terminals offers incentives to customers

    To aid Federal Government’s efforts to decongest the ports, APM Terminals Apapa Limited has granted 50 per cent storage charge waiver to owners of long-standing containers at the terminal.

    The Chief Commercial Officer of the terminals, Mr Neil Fletcher, disclosed this in Lagos. He said the offer became necessary to decongest the port.

    APM Terminals had in 2008 and 2011 waived more than N2.5 billion storage charges for long-standing containers at its facility.

    Fletcher said the measure was in support of the government’s effort to reduce clearance time and congestion at the seaports. He said 724 overtime containers sitting at the terminal will enjoy the 50 per cent storage charge waiver.

    He urged importers and agents to take prompt delivery of their containers to avoid incurring high storage charges.

    “If cargo is released and delivered fast, no storage penalty will apply. But if on the other hand cargo is left in the port for many weeks or months, then high storage penalty will apply because the port is not for storage,” Fletcher said.

    The storage charge waiver on long-standing containers, according to him, “is aimed at making sure that importers and their agents take quick delivery of their boxes so that we can free up space in the terminal.”

    Also, the terminals has begun operations at its new temporary physical examination site, and has introduced free bus shuttle from its gate to the new examination site for clearing agents and Customs operatives.

    Fletcher said work on the old physical examination site would begin soon.