BY UDEME CLEMENT

Nigeria is a big economy and there is great potential for growth but the low volume experienced since the second half of 2012 fiscal year may continue into the first quarter of the year. Apart from low volume of container import, container terminal operators may also face challenges of over-capacity and under-utilisation.”

The Managing Director, APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Dallas Hampton, said this, stressing that the container volumes in Lagos  recorded a marginal increase of about three percent in 2012 as against an increase of 25 percent recorded in 2011.

“We projected 700,000 TEUs in 2012 but we handled only 650,000 TEUs only a slight increase above the 2011 figure of 628,000 TEUs. The terminal now runs more efficiently than ever before with no significant waiting time for vessels to berth. We have not had any significant waiting time for vessels for the last 9 months and vessels are able to berth at the terminal shortly after arrival at the port. We are also seeing a reduction in imported container dwell time due to a number of reasons, not least of which are the company’s improved systems for positioning of containers for scanning although the sheer quantity of containers requested by Nigerian Customs for physical inspection remains a challenge,” Hampton added.

“APM Terminals recently introduced a new enhancement for customers who are able to accurately nominate their containers for x-ray scanning prior to Customs confirmation.