APM Terminals Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration among government, industry, investors and development partners to turn Nigeria’s green infrastructure ambitions into bankable projects capable of accelerating the decarbonisation of the maritime sector and supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The call was made by the Chairman of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, at the second Decarbonising Infrastructure in Nigeria (DIN) Summit in Abuja, themed “De-risking Green Infrastructure Investments: From Policy Architecture to Bankable Projects”.
Klinke said Nigeria had made significant progress in maritime reforms and climate action, but stressed that the next phase must focus on implementation and converting policy ambitions into scalable, investment-ready projects.
“Policy alone does not reduce emissions. Strategies do not decarbonise ports. Frameworks do not attract investment. Projects do,” he said.
He said regulatory clarity, project readiness, reliable emissions data and stronger integration of ports with road, rail and inland logistics networks were critical to attracting investment and delivering both economic and environmental benefits.
Noting that maritime transport accounts for more than 80 per cent of global trade by volume, Klinke said decarbonising the sector was essential to achieving climate goals while strengthening Nigeria’s long-term economic competitiveness.
“The question before us is no longer whether decarbonisation will happen. The question is whether we will create the partnerships, frameworks and investment environment needed to make it happen at the pace required,” he said, urging stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and focus on execution.
Also speaking at the summit, the Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Koen De Backker, said ports and terminals had a critical role in the energy transition, with emissions reductions beginning with more efficient logistics operations.
He identified reducing equipment use and fuel consumption, cutting truck waiting times and congestion, improving cargo flow and operational efficiency, supporting cleaner energy solutions and preparing for lower-emission technologies as key priorities.
“Maritime decarbonisation is not only a fuels challenge. It is also an operational challenge,” De Backker said.
Representing Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hadejia called for urgent policy reforms, stronger public-private partnerships and innovative risk-sharing mechanisms to attract domestic and foreign investment into green infrastructure.
He said greater participation by the private sector, development finance institutions and institutional investors would be required, supported by well-prepared projects capable of attracting long-term capital.
The Personal Assistant to the President on Subnational Infrastructure and representative of the DIN Summit Steering Committee, Musaddiq Adamu, said the summit was established to move green infrastructure projects from concept to investment.
He noted that discussions from the inaugural summit had already contributed to a partnership between APM Terminals and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to advance port electrification and position Onne Port as a leading example of green port development.
APM Terminals Nigeria has also published a white paper outlining practical pathways for reducing emissions across Nigeria’s container logistics value chain.
The company, in partnership with the NPA, plans to invest in green power infrastructure and electric equipment across its Apapa and Onne operations.
The investments are expected to improve energy reliability, create skilled jobs, reduce supply chain emissions and strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness as the country pursues its climate ambitions.