APMT CEO commends Oyetola over Nigeria’s maritime future

The CEO of APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr. Frederick Klinke, has commended Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, for the vision over the Nigeria’s maritime future, which he said, the Minister is doing in a very collaborative approach.

Frederick Klinke said the vision requires both insight, courage and persistency to really make “this go from vision to real actions.”

The APM Terminals CEO gave the commendation while speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Lagos recently.

“I would also like to thank the Minister for the vision that you are bringing to Nigeria’s maritime future. And you are doing that in a very collaborative approach. I think it requires both insight, courage and persistency to really make this go from vision to real actions.

“And I think we are starting to see a lot of positive movements that underline that and that shows the value,” said Klinke.

The CEO highlighted three key areas the reforms that the ministry has given in this renewed agenda for Nigeria’s maritime future to include infrastructure, capacity building and human infrastructure.

According to him, “I would like to highlight three key areas, key reforms that the Ministry has given in this renewed agenda for Nigeria’s maritime future. It’s about infrastructure.

“It is infrastructure in many forms. It is the physical infrastructure and I would also like to congratulate the Minister and NPA for the recent agreement to facilitate rehabilitation of the Apapa port. It cannot be underestimated the importance of this.

“But it is also about the digital infrastructure. It is a great pleasure that we now see the go live of the National Single Window. I know this is a huge achievement and a lot has taken place.

“There is too many to mention, but more than has been made. But it is fair to say that without the leadership and vision of the Ministry of the Economy, this could not have come to fruition.

“And lastly, we have also made reference to that, it is also the human infrastructure. It is building the capabilities of all the employees, whether it is public or private sector, working in the maritime industry to improve first and foremost the safety and the security of the sector.

“There has been great progress in that that has been underlined by the previous speakers. It is also about building the partnerships, both with national operators, international investors and international partners in general.”

He however thanked the minister for his outreach to us as the maritime community in Nigeria. “This is a consistent and persistent effort and I think we all owe him a great debt of gratitude,” he submitted.

APM Terminals Nigeria is the operator of container terminal in Apapa Port, Lagos.