APM Terminals Apapa recently held a send-off ceremony to honour its 13 retiring staff.
The retired workers worked with the company in various durations from six to nine years and more importantly, worked at the Apapa Container Terminal for several years before its concession to APM Terminals in 2006.
From the start of APM Terminals Apapa in 2006, a huge number of staff were hired from the Nigerian Ports Authority and welcomed as important new members of the team who had full access to career development and training opportunities working for a global terminal operator. Today, APM Terminals Apapa has over 1000 staff, 99% of which are Nigerians.
“APM Terminals considers it a great privilege to honor our team members who have helped build our terminal and the Nigerian economy. We wish them good health and success in their future endeavors and we count them as valued friends and professionals in our port community,” said Managing Director, APM Terminals Apapa, Andrew Dawes.
Speaking at the ceremony, Wilson Odiase who has worked at the port since 1976 and joined APM Terminals in 2006 said, “This is the happiest day of my life. I have gathered so much knowledge and experience during my time here. I’m extremely glad to be among this set of retiring staff, knowing that my name will go down in the global history of the company as someone who had a fulfilling career with APM Terminals and helped Nigeria.”
Another retiree, Adedeji Ademola said, “APM Terminals is a company that upholds its values in all aspects. I have never seen a company that cares so much about the safety of its workers; after the takeover by APM Terminals, I can say that work accidents were reduced remarkably. I wish that such care and discipline would be embraced and spread across our country so Nigeria will continue to be a great, safe place for us all.”
APM Terminals is a leading independent port and terminal operator with operations in more than 60 ports and 135 inland services facilities.
In Nigeria, APM Terminals currently operates two container terminals and two inland services facilities in Lagos.
APM Terminals Apapa is the largest container facility by capacity in Lagos – Nigeria’s largest city and business center with a container throughput of 699,000 TEU in 2014, handling 45% of Lagos’ inbound containers. As the only container terminal in Nigeria with rail services, APM Terminals Apapa now operates weekly rail services serving the inland city of Kano, 960 km from Lagos providing a key corridor to Nigeria’s inland cities.
Huge investments and expansion programs since 2006 by APM Terminals Apapa has resulted in container volumes more than doubling and productivity increasing significantly, with waiting times for vessel berthing being eliminated.
In Onne, APM Terminals operates the West Africa Container Terminal – the gateway to the fast-growing Eastern Nigerian markets.
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