APM Terminals urges modern ports, rail and barges to speed up cargo at Nigerian ports

Nigeria's ports will struggle to drive trade and jobs unless they are modernised and cargo can leave the terminals faster, APM Terminals Nigeria said at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #32) in Abuja.

The company's chief executive, Koen De Backker, said the job of a port operator is to move cargo in and out and create wealth for Nigerians. He spoke during a plenary session at the summit, which held under the theme "Growth that Works: Delivering Jobs, Productivity and Shared Prosperity."

De Backker said one big problem is that containers sit too long inside terminals. When that happens, space that should keep cargo moving is tied up, and the port becomes slower for everyone.

Why this matters for traders and prices

For importers, exporters and everyday buyers, slow cargo movement can mean delays and extra costs that often find their way into the price of goods. De Backker said cargo evacuation should not depend on roads alone. He called for more use of barges and rail to move containers out of the ports.

He pointed to APM Terminals' logistics centre in the Ibadan area, where export cargo is gathered, packed into containers and moved by rail into the terminal, as an example of how other transport links can help.

He also said Nigeria's ageing port infrastructure needs modernising, and that technology, specialised skills and investment are needed to raise capacity and efficiency. Private sector involvement, he said, should be seen as a way of "professionalising the infrastructure, modernising, and getting experts in" rather than simply as privatisation.

De Backker added that working with government agencies, Customs and clearing agents is central to real improvement. He cited the use of cargo scanners, saying cooperation with Customs now allows containers to be scanned instead of relying only on physical examination, which he said improves efficiency and security.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who delivered President Bola Tinubu's address at the summit, said improving productivity is key to turning reforms into prosperity. "Our pursuit of prosperity demands greater productivity from every worker, enterprise, and investment," he said, according to the report. He said the government would keep easing regulatory burdens, strengthening transparency and policy predictability, and widening access to finance.

The summit brought together leaders from government, the private sector and other stakeholders to discuss Nigeria's economic development.

What happens next

The sources did not announce new port projects or timelines. The focus from the summit is on faster cargo handling, more rail and barge evacuation, and closer cooperation between port operators, Customs and clearing agents.