APMT Invests N2.3bn On Lilypond Terminal

AP Moller-Maersk (APMM) Group has disclosed that about $15 million (N2.3 billion) was invested to revive Lilypond Container Terminal, Ijora, where cargo throughput has hit 47,000 TEUs last year.

The firm also said it plans to invest an additional $5 million this year to upgrade the terminal to boost capacity development and efficient service delivery in operation.

Cluster Director, APM Terminal Inland Container Services, Central Africa, Bola Bamidele said business activities at the terminal has peaked since her company took over the operations at the terminal five years ago.

“Lilypond had zero throughput when we took over the facility a little over five years ago. We started off from ground zero but we have since turned it around. In 2010, cargo throughput was 23,000 TEUs but this doubled to 47,000 TEUs in 2011 and we expect more growth this year. We also plan to spend additional $5 million this year to further upgrade the terminal and the administrative building,” Bamidele stated.

According to her, the facility at the terminal has been upgraded to make it more competitive with other terminals in the country.

In addition, business activities before now were completely paralysed at the terminal as shipping lines and importers shunned the facility largely due to a legion of inclement factors including severe flooding.

Bamidele explained that the gloomy condition of the terminal has, however, changed with the injection of $15 million (N2.3 billion) by the concessionaire, the A. P. Moller-Maersk (APMM) Group, adding that today, Lilypond Container Terminal was being run as an entity independent of other members of the APMM Group in Nigeria.

She disclosed that her company invested the huge sum on safety, people, equipment, information technology and better infrastructure.

—Esther Komolafe