NPA: We are working with customs to free up space for cargoes at Apapa

Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the agency is working with the Nigeria Customs Service to free up space for cargoes arriving Nigeria.

Speaking at the inauguration of two new mobile harbour cranes (MHCs) in Apapa, Lagos, on Thursday, Usman said the NPA is also engaging with private terminal operators to address increased cargo traffic.

The new cranes were acquired by APM Terminals as part of its additional investment at the Apapa port for the period of 2020-2021.

Usman said as the ports become more efficient, efforts must be made to enhance cargo delivery process.

“We are engaging with the Nigeria Customs Service to remove overtime containers from the port to free vital space for incoming cargo,” she said.

“We are also working with terminal operators to increase the barging of containers to take pressure off the roads.

“We have noted a significant growth in barging capacity and operations with more containers moved daily by barges from the port.”

David Skov, head of terminals, Africa and Middle East region at APM Terminals, said the company has invested $358 million in port infrastructure development and other upgrades.

“The additional investment we are making is to handle the increased trade volumes into Nigeria,” he added.

“Trade in Nigeria is growing due to the many favourable efforts and policies of the federal government of Nigeria including but not limited to the policy on ease of doing business and stabilisation of foreign exchange.

Skov said with the new cranes, the terminal now operates with a total of 10 mobile harbour cranes and 23 rubber tyred gantry cranes.