APM Terminals Apapa Limited, West Africa’s largest container terminal operator, is to deliver a N1.6b ($10m) three storey inspection facility to the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
The new facility, which according to the company is first of its kind in the world, is part of the third phase of the modernisation and upgrading of its Apapa terminals.
It is designed to handle the high rate of physical examination of containers by NCS in the port and is due to be delivered before the end of this quarter.
The facility is currently being constructed in China with parts of it to arrive in the country for customs utilisation.
The facility will use a multi-level racking system operated by yard-cranes.
In 2010 APMT provided a N640m ($3.9m) modern container inspection facility, however this is unutilised by NCS officers.
APM Terminals Apapa which assumed operations at Lagos’ Apapa container Terminal in 2006, is now the busiest container terminal in West-Africa, handling 600,000 TEUs.
Around 85% of all Nigerian non-oil cargo passes through the port of Lagos.
Over the next three decades, Nigeria’s annual container traffic is expected to grow to 10 million TEUs.
