- Ahmed
APM Terminals Nigeria has backed the nation’s efforts at curtailing the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) with the sum of N100 million, even as it sustains operations in the Apapa Port in Lagos and Onne Port in Port Harcourt.
Disclosing this in Lagos, the Managing Director, Mohammed Ahmed, said the sum consists of N75 million for the United Nations in Nigeria basket fund and N25 million for community awareness through radio, social media and fliers to sensitise the Apapa community on how to curb the spread of the pandemic.
He said the company was ensuring an uninterrupted supply chain and availability of essential supplies in spite of the pandemic by adopting stringent measures in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“As an essential service provider, all terminal operations are running normally and we urge importers to continue taking delivery of their containers to enable the fresh discharge of incoming cargo,” he stated.
He noted that in the government, in collaboration with the UN, was mobilising funds to ensure adequate essential health equipment needed for testing, quarantine and medical care, including equipping of temporary hospitals/quarantine and designated emergency centres.
According to Ahmed, “no one is immune or invulnerable to this disease. We urge all to adhere to the guidance from government in order to curb the spread of this pandemic. In this time of need, APM Terminals is honoured to discharge its duty to the nation.
“The wellbeing of our community remains of paramount importance to us. Through our contribution to the UN basket fund, we will play our part in strengthening the country’s capacity to respond.”
Also, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said the body “will support and complement government’s efforts to immediately set up a national response fund that will serve as a single national platform and financing framework, coordinating partnerships and mobilising resources that can make an effective impact on the ground.”
APM Terminals Nigeria operates APM Terminals Apapa and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT).