APM Terminals to sustain Apapa – Moniya rail route

APM Terminals Nigeria says it is committed to sustaining the Apapa-Moniya Standard Gauge to ensure the seamless flow of cargo to and from the Apapa port to the Nigerian Railway Corporation Freight Yard at Moniya, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Chief Commercial Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Caroline Aubert-Adewuyi, stated that route will also support exports

She said, “The plan for the Apapa-Moniya standard gauge rail service is that it operates like an airport conveyor belt system, receiving exports from the hinterland and evacuating imports from the port efficiently, on a fixed schedule without interruptions.”

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Aubert-Adewuyi highlighted past challenges with the rail service, particularly unpredictable scheduling, that made cargo planning difficult for customers. 

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She said, “With our revamped service, we now offer a reliable and structured schedule, departing three times a week, ensuring efficient cargo movement from Apapa to Ibadan and back. 

“This initiative also provides a cost-effective alternative to road transport, helping to alleviate the persistent traffic congestion in Apapa, which has significantly increased logistics costs.”

She also announced a simplified payment system, where customers will now make payments exclusively to APM Terminals Apapa, which will handle all necessary payments to other stakeholders in the rail service supply chain. 

The Chief Finance Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Courage Obadagbonyi, emphasised the multi-modal strength of Apapa Port, integrating barge, road, and rail transport for enhanced cargo handling. 

NRC managing director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, acknowledged the longstanding collaboration between NRC and APM Terminals in moving container traffic across Nigeria, previously utilising the narrow-gauge line to Kaduna and Kano. 

He noted that container transportation on the new standard gauge rail line officially commenced in September 2023, with logistics firms like Bueno Logistics and Transco Africa Logistics among the early adopters.

He also revealed that two additional rail lines are nearing completion at APM Terminals Apapa, bringing the total number of standard gauge lines to three.