Blue Economy
NSC Board Visits APM Terminals Apapa, Cites $600m Investment Pledge as Boost for Nigeria’s Trade Ambitions
NSC Board Visits APM Terminals Apapa, Cites $600m Investment Pledge as Boost for Nigeria’s Trade Ambitions
Regulator points to 30% export cargo growth, digital transformation as signs of maturing port ecosystem
By Ighoyota Onaibre| Waterways News
The Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has declared APM Terminals Apapa a benchmark for port operations in Nigeria, following a familiarisation visit to the Apapa facility that laid bare both the terminal’s progress and the regulator’s broader vision for the country’s port sector.
Leading the delegation, NSC Board Chairman Dr Ibrahim Shehu Shema used the occasion to reaffirm the Council’s commitment to its mandate as Nigeria’s port economic regulator, stressing that cross-sector collaboration remains the cornerstone of building a truly competitive maritime ecosystem.
“Most of what I have seen on this visit is quite impressive,” Shema said. “The way the organisations involve their stakeholders is commendable. It shows that government is very serious about generating revenue for this country through this sector, and there is no doubt that foreign investors are interested in committing even more resources.”
He said the Council would continue deepening engagement with terminal operators, shipping lines and shippers to position Nigeria as the dominant maritime hub for West and Central Africa — a goal he tied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Akutah: Export Growth and Dangote Refinery Signal a Trade Rebalancing
NSC Executive Secretary and CEO Dr Pius Akutah struck an optimistic tone on the trade balance question — long a structural concern in Nigerian maritime circles. He disclosed that export cargo volumes at APM Terminals Apapa have grown by approximately 30 per cent, calling the figure a harbinger of change.
“For too long, the country has operated largely as an importing nation, resulting in persistent deficits in the balance of payments,” Akutah said. “This gives us optimism that, in the coming years, Nigeria will achieve a more balanced trade position.”
He acknowledged that exports remain predominantly commodity-based, but identified the Dangote Refinery’s emerging petroleum product exports and the opportunities unlocked by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as catalysts for a more diversified export profile.
“With the Dangote Refinery now exporting petroleum products, we expect further progress. The manufacturing sector holds strong potential, particularly under AfCFTA, which provides a unified platform for trade across the continent. We are confident that Nigeria will soon expand its footprint in exporting manufactured goods across Africa,” he said.
On regulatory oversight, Akutah noted that many terminal operators are aligning with NSC directives to modernise facilities and embrace technology — progress he described as consistent with the vision of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, CON.
$600m Reinvestment Proposal Described as a Vote of Confidence
Perhaps the most consequential disclosure of the visit came from Akutah’s confirmation that APM Terminals has tabled a proposal to invest an additional $600 million in its Nigerian operations — a commitment the NSC chief described as a strong signal of investor confidence at a time the Federal Government is actively courting foreign direct investment.
“At a time when the Federal Government is actively seeking foreign direct investment, it is reassuring to see companies already operating in Nigeria reinvesting and expanding their commitments,” Akutah said. “It is truly heartening and signals a promising period for the country.”
Terminal MD Points to Digital Overhaul
APM Terminals Apapa Managing Director Kamal Alhraishat used the occasion to highlight the terminal’s shift to electronic data interchange (EDI) systems — replacing manual, paper-based processes with digital platforms that enable the seamless exchange of standardised trade documents including invoices, bills of lading and cargo status updates.
“By eliminating paper-based processes, we have enhanced both efficiency and accuracy, while ensuring faster and more transparent communication between the terminal, shipping lines and shippers,”
Alhraishat said, adding that the company remains committed to ongoing infrastructure investment and technological innovation in support of Nigeria’s trade ambitions.
Nigeria Watch
The NSC board visit to APM Terminals Apapa carries more than ceremonial weight. It comes at a pivotal moment in the concession reform cycle, with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) still navigating the concession renewal process for several terminals — a process in which operator performance benchmarks will be central.
APM Terminals Apapa’s reported 30 per cent export cargo growth is a metric worth watching closely. It corroborates narratives around the Dangote Refinery’s impact on Nigeria’s outbound freight market, and hints at a structural shift in the cargo mix at Apapa that regulators and terminal planners will need to account for.
The $600 million reinvestment proposal, if formalised, would represent one of the largest single private commitments to Nigerian port infrastructure in recent memory — and would significantly strengthen the case for Apapa’s continued relevance against the growing competitive pressure from the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
For the NSC, the visit reinforces its posture as an active regulator — one that is auditing performance, not merely adjudicating disputes. That positioning, amplified by Executive Secretary Akutah’s references to the AfCFTA and export diversification, suggests the Council is sharpening its strategic framing ahead of what promises to be a consequential season of port sector policy decisions.
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