The West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) at the weekend moved a step further to realizing its vision of becoming the gateway to eastern Nigeria as it commissioned 16 brand new terminal trucks to boost efficiency and cargo handling operations at the Onne Port, Rivers State.
The trucks were acquired as part of a fresh investment of USD112 million, about N9 billion, by APM Terminals to upgrade and expand the terminal at Onne.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the new trucks, the Country Managing Director of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, commended WACT for acquiring and deploying the new trucks. The Managing Director of WACT, Naved Zafar, said the upgrade includes the acquisition of Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs), Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) cranes, empty handlers, terminal trucks and forklifts.
It also includes the deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity, as well as expansion of the current yard, new workshop and a new terminal gate complex.
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Also speaking, the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt Area 2 Command, Comptroller Bola Imam, who was represented at the event by Deputy Comptroller Acho Ojike, said: “WACT’s operations have supported the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) immensely in generating revenue and meeting their targets.
“NCS is all about the revenue collection but this cannot be achieved without WACT. WACT has shown wonderful commitment towards this course, and we remain thankful to them.”
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Port Manager of Onne Port, Stanley Magaji Yitnoe, said the acquisition will aid efficiency, improve productivity and ensure quick turnaround of vessels at the port in line with the federal government’s policy on the ease of doing business.
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