By Francis Ogwo
A new operation command centre built by terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa has been commissioned by The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi with a view to strengthen service delivery at the ports.
Amaechi, while performing the inauguration of the terminal, said that the completion of ongoing rail line projects would ease the movement of containers out of Apapa Port and reduce the pressure on the road.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Country Manager of APM Terminals, Mr Klaus Laursen, in Lagos on Monday, December 21, 2020 stated that the new operation command centre will improve operational efficiency, provide a better working environment, strengthen the exchange of information and coordination in the movement of containers out of the port including other benefits.
“The centre is the brain of the business. It is about day-to-day execution where information is exchanged. This is where we decide which box to put where at which time and the equipment to pick so that everything works together.
“It will help locate containers whether to go on a truck or barge at the right time. It will also help to know where a container is and allocate a piece of equipment to lift the container. That is what the centre will help do.
“With the type of terminal of this size and with this equipment, we should be able to put around 40 to 45 moves per hour across the quay. It will improve productivity. We are targeting about 700 deliveries per day and we will like to double that so we need stronger delivery capabilities, so the importers and the exporters in Nigeria can get faster access to their cargo and possibly at a cheaper rate.”
The statement further affirmed that the company aims at boosting the efforts of the Federal Government in developing rail transportation system for the movement of goods out of the port in order to reduce road traffic.
Recall that the concessioning of the major ports in the country to private terminal operators by the Obasanjo administration in 2006 was with the aim of improving efficiency and productivity in the Nigerian Ports Sector.
There have been some massive improvements in ports operations as evidenced in the huge investments by the terminal operators and high-level efficiency in the ports.
