President Bola Tinubu is set to officially inaugurate the upgraded West Africa Container Terminal in Onne, Rivers State, next Wednesday, according to a statement from the terminal operator released on Sunday.
According to the statement, the $115 million (approximately N178.2 billion) upgrade project, which began in 2021, represents an unprecedented investment in the facility.
It added that the terminal operated by APM Terminals, is the largest and most efficient container terminal in Nigeria outside of Lagos, according to The Punch.
The WACT Managing Director, Jeethu Jose highlighted that the completion of the upgrade marks a significant milestone in the history of Nigerian ports, enhancing the terminal’s capacity and efficiency.
“We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the upgrade of our terminal at Onne Port. This will be a game-changer for Nigeria, and we are thoroughly excited about it.
“The fresh investment of $115m is a further testament to the trust and confidence that APMT has in the Nigerian economy and contributes to our purpose of improving lives for all while lifting global trade,” Jose stated.
WACT is Nigeria’s first greenfield container terminal to develop under a public-private partnership model.
Ideally located in the oil and gas free zone of Onne, Rivers State, the terminal serves as both a major entry point to markets outside of Lagos and an essential link to the rapidly expanding economy of Eastern Nigeria.
Notably, on August 15, 2020, WACT made history by receiving the largest container vessel ever to berth at any Nigerian port, underscoring its strategic importance in the nation’s maritime industry.
