The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation/Marine and Blue Economy, Olufemi Oloruntola has said, the Federal Government was working hard to ensure 100 percent scanning of cargoes across ports in the country.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed this on Monday while receiving the Chief Executive Officer of the APM Terminals, Frederik Klinke at his office in Abuja.
He said the full scanning of cargoes will bring about effectiveness and efficiency of operations within Nigerian ports rather than physical inspection.
He added that the Ministry plans to upgrade cargo scanning from the present status of 25% to 100% by procuring 4 additional scanners where there is presently one.
Oloruntola assured the management team of APM Terminals that the present administration is ready to tinker with Ports’ operation to realise the N10 Trillion projection for the Sector.
“In doing this Government will not be willing to depreciate the shared value of what we have in the Ports.”
Earlier, Klinke revealed that the Company has its largest terminals’ operation concentrated in Onne Ports having invested $110 Million, and hoping to have a similar feat in Apapa, Lagos Ports.
According to a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi, He also disclosed that the Company operates Inland Dry Port in Kano.
The visitor who came in company of Chinenye Mirian Deinde, the General Manager, Legal and Corporate Affairs of APM Terminals, remarked that Nigeria is at a critical junction in terms of developing the logistics of its ports’ operations.
He added that the country also needs to develop the supply chains in the country to support economic growth and if in particular, it is to realize the $1 Trillion target it ascribes to the marine economy.
The visitor further pleaded with the Permanent Secretary to allow APM Terminals to be much more involved.
“We hope to invest more in the scanners in a way that is economically sustainable; as right now, what is on ground is just 25% of what is required.”
He recommended that at Onne Port, the Federal Ministry of Transport/Marine and Blue Economy should consider it urgent, to link rail connection to the terminal operations.
Frederik Klinke further requested that the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and the Permanent Secretary should be part of the commissioning of the total investment that APM Terminal has programmed to come up in May 2024 at Onne.
As a long-term investment plan, the visiting Frederik Klinke asked that the Government should consider the interest of APMT which has terminal and shipping interest in the Badagry Port.
He revealed that APMT has already opened dialogue with the Badagry Port Development Company which is planning the Badagry Port which APMT sees as a supplement to the Lagos Port Complex.
