Green Ports: Operator Seeks Urgent Action To Decarbonise Nigeria’s Maritime Sector

APM Terminals Nigeria has called for urgent action by the government, private sector, investors and development partners to accelerate the development of green maritime infrastructure as part of efforts to decarbonise Nigeria’s maritime sector and strengthen the country’s trade competitiveness.

The operator said Nigeria must move beyond policy formulation and translate its climate and maritime ambitions into bankable, investment-ready projects capable of attracting long-term capital while delivering measurable environmental and economic benefits.

The chairman of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, made the call at the second Decarbonizing Infrastructure in Nigeria (DIN) Summit in Abuja, themed, “De-risking Green Infrastructure Investments: From Policy Architecture to Bankable Projects.”

Klinke said while Nigeria had made progress in maritime reforms and climate action, the next phase must focus on implementing projects that can deliver tangible results.

“Policy alone does not reduce emissions. Strategies do not decarbonize ports. Frameworks do not attract investment. Projects do,” he said.

He stressed the need to convert policy ambition into scalable projects that are ready for investment and capable of simultaneously advancing economic growth and environmental sustainability.

According to him, maritime transport accounts for more than 80 per cent of global trade by volume, making the decarbonisation of the sector critical to achieving climate objectives while safeguarding Nigeria’s long-term economic competitiveness.

Klinke identified regulatory clarity, project readiness, reliable emissions data and stronger integration of ports with road, rail and inland logistics networks as critical requirements for accelerating the green transition.

He said investments in efficient and cleaner maritime infrastructure would not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve the efficiency of Nigeria’s logistics chain and strengthen the country’s position in global trade.

Also speaking, the chief executive officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Koen De Backker, said ports and terminals had a critical role to play in the energy transition, stressing that decarbonisation must begin with improving the efficiency of logistics operations.

He said emissions could be reduced through lower equipment usage and fuel consumption, shorter truck waiting times, reduced congestion, improved cargo flow and operational efficiency, as well as the adoption of cleaner energy solutions and lower-emission technologies.

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

Representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, 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 the country’s climate and infrastructure objectives could not be achieved without greater participation from the private sector, development finance institutions and institutional investors.

He stressed the need for well-prepared projects capable of attracting long-term capital into the sector.

The personal assistant to the president on Subnational Infrastructure and representative of the DIN Summit Steering Committee, Musaddiq Adamu, said the summit was established to bridge the gap between green infrastructure concepts and actual investment.

Adamu said engagements from previous editions had already produced tangible outcomes, including progress on port electrification initiatives.

According to him, discussions that followed APM Terminals’ presentation at the inaugural summit contributed to a partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) aimed at advancing the electrification of port operations and positioning Onne Port as a leading example of green port development in Nigeria.

Earlier, Klinke highlighted APM Terminals Nigeria’s contribution to the country’s decarbonisation agenda, including the launch of a white paper outlining practical pathways for reducing emissions across Nigeria’s container logistics value chain.

He said the report demonstrated how electrification of logistics operations could stimulate investment, improve energy reliability, create skilled jobs, enhance public health outcomes and reduce supply-chain emissions.

As part of its long-term sustainability strategy, APM Terminals, in partnership with the NPA, plans to invest in green power infrastructure and electric equipment across its Apapa and Onne operations.

The initiative, according to the company, is expected to improve the efficiency and sustainability of port operations, strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and support the country’s climate ambitions.

Klinke said the focus should now shift from discussions on whether decarbonisation would happen to creating the investment environment and partnerships required to achieve it at the required pace.

“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,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and prioritise execution, stressing that infrastructure investments and partnerships established today would shape Nigeria’s future economy, trade competitiveness and environmental sustainability.