APM Terminals Apapa is planning to move a larger share of export containers by rail and introduce round the clock barge operations from the fourth quarter of 2026 as it seeks to improve cargo movement and reduce logistics challenges at the port.
The terminal, which is Nigeria’s largest container terminal, announced the plans during the third edition of its Exporters Forum, themed “Exports, Voice of Customers Forum”. The event brought together exporters, shipping lines, logistics companies, regulators and other stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting the country’s export supply chain.
APM Terminals’ Head of Commercial, Kayode Olufemi Daniel, said the company was working with stakeholders to identify the major causes of delays and develop practical measures to improve the movement of export cargo.
“We want to understand the pain points with the export process end to end,” he said, adding that the discussions would help the company and industry players develop an action plan for increasing export volumes through the terminal.
Rail evacuation is a major part of the terminal’s strategy. Its Key Client Manager, Adesoji Olaniyan, said APM Terminals Apapa was targeting the movement of 60 per cent of its export containers by rail.
According to Olaniyan, the terminal currently has rail evacuation arrangements through two locations. Customers can collect empty containers from the facilities, load their goods and return the filled export containers to the terminal by rail.
Each location handles about three rail calls a week, depending on demand, while individual trains can carry around 60 twenty foot equivalent units.
Olaniyan said the terminal’s internal assessment had shown that rail remains the most cost effective option for moving containers out of the port.
The company is also expanding its barge operations through its dedicated Finger Jetty, which is expected to begin operating around the clock in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Olufemi Daniel said the facility would be able to handle both incoming and outgoing containers. This will allow export cargo to be moved into the terminal, imported containers to be evacuated and empty containers to be brought in at any time of the day.
“This gives us the capacity to handle more barges unlike the past when we had to do barging on our main quay,” he said.
The additional capacity is expected to give customers more options for evacuating containers while improving the overall movement of cargo through the terminal.
Olufemi Daniel also called for better communication and coordination among shipping lines, exporters, importers and regulatory agencies. He said improved cargo visibility and simpler processes would be important in rebuilding customer confidence and encouraging more exporters to use the terminal.
“We want exporters to come back to Apapa. We want the volumes to come back,” he said, noting that the terminal wants to strengthen Apapa’s position as a major export gateway as the Federal Government continues its drive to diversify the economy and expand non oil exports.
Participants at the forum welcomed the platform, describing it as an opportunity to discuss operational challenges and review progress on recommendations from previous engagements.
Precious Idika, Customer Service Manager of COSCO Shipping Lines Nigeria, also praised APM Terminals’ Team View portal for making some customer transactions easier, particularly the terminal gating process.
She said the platform allows customers to complete payment advice while shipping lines update the required information, helping to make access to the terminal more convenient.
Professor Frank Ojadi of Lagos Business School described the forum as a useful channel for maintaining dialogue between the terminal and its customers. He, however, encouraged APM Terminals to take the initiative beyond Lagos and engage stakeholders in major commercial and export producing centres such as Kano and Port Harcourt.
Representatives of Maersk Line, British American Tobacco Nigeria, PIL Nigeria, Allround Cargo Company, Star Living Nigeria and other industry stakeholders also acknowledged improvements in the terminal’s operations.
