California seeks Nigeria’s port operations partnership

A delegation from California was in Nigeria as part of a 10-day trade mission to West and East Africa, seeking to strengthen cooperation across climate, infrastructure, trade and technology.

Last week, the delegation toured APM Terminals Apapa in Lagos, where they were shown the container terminal’s operations and investments in talent development.

Toks Omishakin, California’s secretary of transportation lauded the facility’s standards noting that “from a staffing standpoint, they are very high-calibre people capable of working effectively with our counterparts back in California.”

He stressed that efficiency at ports was a cornerstone of global trade, pointing out striking similarities between systems in Nigeria and those in the United States.

“Many do not know that ports in Nigeria have the same level of capability as those on the West Coast,” he said. Omishakin added that California was keen on partnerships that promote environmental sustainability, citing examples from the US such as shore power systems that allow ships to plug in while docked, reducing idling emissions.

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Frederik Klinke, chief executive at APM Terminals Nigeria, described the visit as an opportunity to reinforce the company’s global approach to stakeholder engagement.

“The team has had the opportunity to see our quayside operations, learn about the history of Apapa, and observe how we have consistently improved our operations over the years,” he noted.

Terminal Manager Steen Knudsen said the delegation’s observations in Lagos reflected the company’s consistent global practices. “We continuously review and innovate our processes to ensure compliance with international standards. This proactive approach positions us to effectively capitalise on future opportunities for international collaboration and business development,” he stated.

Alex Ford, vice president of global programmes at the Bay Area Council, noted that the “facility meets the same standard of APM Terminals and Maersk internationally. I think it’s pretty impressive that they are really trying to use this place as a way to train talent for their larger global ecosystem.”

With California home to the busiest ports in the Western Hemisphere, the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, which together handle more than 20 million TEUs annually, the delegation is optimistic that closer collaboration with Nigeria could open new opportunities for trade, technology exchange and climate-conscious innovation.