News in brief:
– APM Terminals and Oyo State officials discussed logistics opportunities and challenges for the Apapa-Moniya rail service.
– Agricultural traders raised concerns about shipment booking, cold chain logistics, and cargo consolidation.
APM Terminals Apapa has engaged agricultural importers, exporters, and Oyo State government officials to promote the Apapa-Moniya rail service as a reliable logistics solution for cargo transportation. The meeting, attended by Special Adviser to the Oyo State Government, Tilewa Folami, focused on addressing logistics challenges and optimising the newly launched rail service.
Boosting trade through rail transport
Last month, APM Terminals, in collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), introduced the Apapa-Moniya rail service, which operates three times weekly to facilitate cargo movement between Lagos and Oyo State.
Speaking at the engagement, Steen Knudsen, manager of APM Terminals, underscored the rail service’s role in expanding trade opportunities for Nigeria’s hinterland. He noted that the service is particularly crucial for perishable agricultural commodities, offering a reliable and predictable logistics network for importers and exporters.
“This rail service will significantly improve business prospects for importers and exporters in the hinterland, providing them with a fixed, reliable schedule to transport commodities to Apapa Port,” Knudsen stated.
The APM Terminals team was accompanied by Denmark’s Consul General, Trade Counsellor Jette Bjerrum, and Commercial Trade Advisor to the Danish Consulate, Victoria Epelle. Bjerrum highlighted Denmark’s commercial involvement in Nigeria, particularly in strengthening the agricultural value chain. She emphasised her country’s commitment to supporting local agriculture, energy, and livestock exports through government-backed cold chain initiatives will enhance market access.
Oyo State’s industrial and infrastructure plans
Special Adviser Tilewa Folami detailed Oyo State’s industrialisation agenda, focusing on road infrastructure projects, including the Shaki-Benin route, to improve trade connectivity. He stressed that the Apapa-Moniya rail service is strategically positioned to support logistics planning, especially with Oyo set to host a new city and West Africa’s largest market in collaboration with France.
“It would be beneficial if APM Terminals could share weekly and monthly updates on the progress of the rail service with us. Additionally, establishing an office in Moniya to handle customer inquiries would improve efficiency,” Folami suggested.
He further revealed that the state plans to develop a cargo and international passenger airport to strengthen trade and investment opportunities. Also, an upcoming investment summit in May will bring together 150 companies and regional investors to explore economic prospects.
Stakeholders raise key concerns
Agricultural importers and exporters at the meeting raised several concerns, including the feasibility of booking shipments directly from Ibadan without travelling to Lagos. They also emphasised the need for cold chain logistics to preserve perishable goods and called for improved data sharing between APM Terminals and the Oyo State Government to drive investment. Additionally, stakeholders discussed the potential for cargo consolidation at the terminal to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
With APM Terminals actively engaging local stakeholders, the Apapa-Moniya rail service is expected to play a vital role in enhancing Nigeria’s agricultural export capacity and improving logistics efficiency for businesses in Oyo State.
