Business
‘APM Terminals Respects Ministerial Directive’
APM Terminals (APMT), one of the private port managers at Apapa, on Friday said that half of cargoes discharged at its terminal were now taken to bonded terminals for prompt clearance.
This is contained in a statement issued by the company in Lagos.
The statement quoted the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Martin Dirks, as saying that the decision was taken in compliance with the directive of the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, during his recent visit to the company’s city office at Apapa.
He said that the directive of the minister was informed by the chaotic situation he met at the office on the day clearing agents were protesting at the office.
Dirks said the company had formally complained about the threats from the Ministerial Task Force on Port Charges and Efficiency to close its office on June 15.
Dirks said his company was complying fully with the ministerial directive and that the closure of the office would lead to closure of some of its operations.
“Our city office has always been an example of professionalism and a place where our customers have been able to conclude their transactions with APMT in civilised manner.
“We all have to realise that transferring an office of this size with all the related systems and software will need proper preparation and will take a considerable amount of time.
“From the APMT side, we still maintain that should the minister visit the city office on an ordinary business day, he would find the office a conducive environment in which our customers carry out their business effectively,’’ Dirks said.
He said the APMT management had decided to expand visitors waiting area in the office to enhance its operations before the final relocation.
Dirks said a fully dedicated waiting area would be constructed by the company and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) at its main terminal to create a comfortable working environment for agents.
Reports says that the Ministerial Task Force on Port Charges and Efficiency will conclude its seven-day assignment on Friday.
The task force was set up to resolve problems relating to late cargoes clearance at the ports.
Clearing agents recently threatened to withdraw their services from the ports because of delays in positioning containers for examination at APM Terminals.
APMT is the concessionaire managing the old Apapa Container Terminal and controls 75 per cent of container traffic in the country.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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