APM Terminals Apapa to strengthen exports with 24-hour operations

APM Terminals Apapa, Nigeria’s largest container terminal, is stepping up efforts to ease persistent bottlenecks in the country’s export logistics chain, targeting a significant increase in rail evacuation and introducing round-the-clock barge operations in Q4 2026.

The initiatives were announced during the third edition of the APM Terminals Apapa Exporters Forum, themed “Exports – Voice of Customers Forum”, which brought together exporters, shipping lines, logistics operators, regulators, industry stakeholders and academia to identify challenges across Nigeria’s export supply chain and develop practical solutions.

Speaking at the forum, Head of Commercial, APM Terminals Apapa, Kayode Olufemi-Daniel, said the terminal was taking a collaborative approach to improving export logistics by focusing on the root causes of delays and working with stakeholders on practical solutions.

APM Terminals is also expanding its barging capability through its dedicated Finger Jetty, which will commence 24-hour operations in Q4 2026. The facility will support both incoming and outgoing containers, allowing customers to move export cargo into the terminal, evacuate imports and bring in empty containers around the clock.

A major component of the terminal’s strategy is expanded use of rail. Key Client Manager, Adesoji Olaniyan, said APM Terminals Apapa has set a target of moving 60 percent of its export containers by rail.

He said the terminal currently operates rail evacuation arrangements through two locations, enabling customers to collect empty containers, stuff them and return laden export containers to the terminal by rail. Each location currently records about three weekly rail calls, depending on demand, while each train has a capacity of approximately 60 TEUs.

Olaniyan said based on the terminal’s internal assessment, rail remains the most cost-effective evacuation option.

Participants at the forum commended APM Terminals for providing a platform for stakeholders to openly discuss operational challenges and track progress on previous recommendations.

COSCO Shipping Lines Nigeria Customer Service Manager, Precious Idika, highlighted the effectiveness of the terminal’s Team View portal in simplifying processes for customers, while Lagos Business School faculty member Prof. Frank Ojadi, praised the forum as an important channel for sustained engagement.

Ojadi urged APM Terminals to extend the initiative beyond Lagos to 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 stakeholders also acknowledged visible improvements in the terminal’s operations.