APM Terminals and Barging Marine Solutions Ltd have signed an exclusive lease agreement until September 2031 to expand services in and around Apapa, underlining the terminal operator's long-term commitment to developing Nigerian trade opportunities.
The agreement aims to leverage the close collaboration between the two parties to increase capacity and provide enhanced landside and barge connections, benefiting both customers and shipping lines.
The CEO of APM Terminals, Keith Svendsen, said on signing the agreement: "The Nigerian market has shown solid growth throughout 2025, and APM Terminals strongly believes in the development of the market in the years ahead. Therefore, we must take the necessary steps to develop and realise the potential of the terminal, while also considering the future potential for investment and further modernisation in Lagos.
Barging Marine Solutions has been running a resilient business, and we look forward to developing the synergies we see by entering this collaboration."
Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines
"This important collaboration with APM Terminals builds on the strong existing business that we have together and will provide enhanced logistics solutions for APM Terminals ' customers and shipping lines by leveraging BMS's barging and terminal operations for additional capacity and reliable delivery," says Karim Said, CEO of Barging Marine Solutions Ltd.
The facilities include two waterfront and inland container terminals as well as barge services that will offer an alternative to road transportation and thereby ease the pressure on roadside transport via trucking, reducing traffic congestion and reducing logistics-related costs.
"We believe that the improved barge services, as well as Barging Marine Solutions' position as market leader within inland container depots, can improve both reliability and speed for our customers as well as optimise our coordination across the supply chain, which will give a more seamless customer experience," says Frederik Klinke, MD, APM Terminals Nigeria.
Barging Marine Solutions Ltd will, under the agreement, operate the services for APM Terminals, and the companies will jointly develop solutions to add value for customers.
In its terminals in Apapa, Kano and Onne, APM Terminals lifts about half of Nigeria's containerised trade and provide direct and indirect employment to more than 10,000 Nigerian families. A recent USD 115 million upgrade and expansion project at the West African Container Terminal (Onne) demonstrates the company's commitment to growth, providing safe, reliable, and cost-effective customer solutions. It is ready to invest further in the country to develop improved multimodal options, enhanced quayside efficiencies, and the right solutions to support its customers. As part of APM Terminals, its network of over 60 terminals connects all regions and serves all major shipping lines worldwide.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Barging Marine Solutions Ltd has been operating in Nigeria since 2019, providing industry-leading barging and terminal solutions to its customers. It operates waterside terminals in Abule Oshun and Agbara and inland container depots in Abule Oshun where it offers Bonded Terminal Services with clearing for both Apapa and Tincan cargo. Its fleet of barges navigates the Lagos waterways, providing container transportation to port terminals and helping to alleviate congestion on Apapa roads. The company stated that it was committed to providing customer-centric logistics solutions by utilising the Lagos waterways.
