The Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke has said that implementing technology can increase the capacity and efficiency of the ports.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Nigerian Ports and Trade Investment Forum 2023 held in Lagos, Klinke said that technology can help build collaboration between government agencies and the private sector to find common solutions to the challenges facing supply chain in the country.
He also said that APM Terminals has deployed software solutions that allow customers interact with its staff online, thereby reducing physical interactions at the port.
“We are rolling out customer-centric solutions globally at APM Terminals, which allow an increased feasibility between what happens in Nigeria and other ports. The next frontier for us is to enable the connectivity between our systems, customs, other governmental agencies and customers that need to have visibility on the containers before they come into the country,” Klinke said.
Speaking earlier while moderating a session on “Investments in Maritime Technology for Efficient Service Delivery at Nigerian Ports”, the Chief Financial Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Courage Obadagbonyi, advocated synergy between government agencies operating at the port.
He said synergy and inter-agency collaboration would ensure effective service delivery to port users and strengthen the supply chain.
Also speaking during the session, the Commercial Manager, APM Terminals West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Ismaila Badjie said Nigeria is an African super power with huge growth opportunities.
He said APM Terminals became a leading container terminal operator because it focuses on meeting the needs of its customers.
“At APM Terminals, we ensure that the customers are at the center of our operations and thought processes. In West Africa Container Terminal Onne, we invested in a landscape; we are building a new terminal, which is almost completed. We also have online services such as Truck Appointment System which enable customers create, change or cancel their truck appointment time slots and TERMView, which enables customers to raise invoices, make payments, book container examination and download receipts from the comforts of their offices or homes without having to visit the port.
“At APM Terminals, we seek to make processes easy for our customers. The way forward is to take the bull by the horn by collaborating to make a difference to the customer,” he said,
APM Terminals Nigeria oversees the operation of APM Terminals Apapa, West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) Onne and APM Terminals Kano.