APM Terminals Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration between government, industry, investors and development partners to accelerate the development of bankable green infrastructure projects for Nigeria’s maritime sector.

The company said such projects would help transform the maritime industry while supporting Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

The call was made by the Chairman of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, at the Second Decarbonising Infrastructure in Nigeria Summit in Abuja. The summit was themed “De-risking Green Infrastructure Investments: From Policy Architecture to Bankable Projects.”

According to a statement issued by the firm on Sunday, Klinke told policymakers, industry leaders and development partners that Nigeria had recorded significant progress in maritime reforms and climate action. However, he said the country’s next priority should be implementation.

“Policy alone does not reduce emissions, strategies do not decarbonise ports, frameworks do not attract investment. Projects do,” Klinke said.

He stressed the importance of converting policy ambitions into scalable, investment-ready projects capable of delivering economic and environmental benefits.

Klinke also pointed to the importance of maritime transport to global commerce, noting that it accounts for more than 80 per cent of global trade by volume.

“decarbonising the sector is critical to achieving climate goals and strengthening long-term economic competitiveness.”

He identified regulatory clarity, project readiness, dependable emissions data and stronger integration between ports, roads, rail and inland logistics networks as key requirements for advancing decarbonisation.

“The question before us is no longer whether decarbonisation will happen. The question is whether we will create the partnerships, frameworks and investment environment needed to make it happen at the pace required,” Klinke said.

He urged stakeholders to shift their focus from dialogue to execution, stressing that infrastructure investments and partnerships established now would influence Nigeria’s future economy, trade competitiveness and environmental sustainability.

The Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Koen De Backker, also addressed the summit, highlighting the role of ports and terminals in the energy transition.

According to De Backker, reducing emissions starts with improving the efficiency of logistics systems. He identified measures including reducing equipment use and fuel consumption, cutting truck waiting times and congestion, improving cargo flow and operational efficiency, supporting cleaner energy solutions and preparing for the adoption of lower-emission technologies.

“Maritime decarbonisation is not only a fuels challenge. It is also an operational challenge,” De Backker said.

Representing the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, called for urgent policy reforms, stronger public-private partnerships and innovative risk-sharing mechanisms to attract domestic and foreign investment into Nigeria’s green infrastructure sector.

Hadejia said meeting Nigeria’s climate and infrastructure objectives would require increased participation from the private sector, development finance institutions and institutional investors. He added that this would need to be supported by well-prepared projects capable of attracting long-term capital.

The Personal Assistant to the President on Subnational Infrastructure and representative of the DIN Summit Steering Committee, Musaddiq Adamu, said the summit was created to tackle a key challenge: “moving green infrastructure projects from concept to investment.”

Adamu said engagements from previous editions of the summit had already generated tangible outcomes, including progress on port electrification initiatives.

He explained that discussions after APM Terminals’ presentation at the inaugural summit contributed to a partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority aimed at advancing the electrification of port operations and positioning Onne Port as a leading example of green port development in Nigeria.

Klinke had earlier outlined APM Terminals Nigeria’s contribution to the country’s decarbonisation agenda, including the release of a white paper detailing practical pathways for cutting emissions across Nigeria’s container logistics value chain.

The report shows how electrifying logistics operations can stimulate investment, improve energy reliability, create skilled jobs, enhance public health outcomes and reduce supply chain emissions.

As part of its long-term commitment to sustainable logistics, APM Terminals, in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority, plans to invest in green power infrastructure and electric equipment across its Apapa and Onne operations.

The initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness while supporting the country’s climate ambitions.

Source: Punch