President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to commission the newly upgraded West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne, Rivers State on Tuesday.
This terminal, managed by APM Terminals, stands as Nigeria’s largest and most advanced container facility outside Lagos, and the recent USD115 million upgrade, initiated in 2021, has further enhanced its capacity.
WACT’s strategic location within the Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne has made it a critical gateway for trade, particularly for regions outside the Lagos area, and a key player in Eastern Nigeria’s economic growth.
Notably, the terminal achieved a milestone in August 2020 when it accommodated the largest container vessel ever to dock at a Nigerian port, the Maersk Stadelhorn, which has a capacity of 10,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU).
The commissioning event is expected to attract numerous high-profile attendees, including state governors, federal ministers, and heads of various government agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Additionally, representatives from shipping companies, freight forwarders, and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority will be present, which reflects the terminal’s importance to Nigeria’s economy.
