APM Terminals Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration among government, industry, investors and development partners to turn Nigeria’s green infrastructure ambitions into bankable projects capable of accelerating the decarbonisation of the maritime sector and supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The call was made by the Chairman of APM Terminals Nigeria, Frederik Klinke, at the second Decarbonising Infrastructure in Nigeria (DIN) Summit in Abuja, themed “De-risking Green Infrastructure Investments: From Policy Architecture to Bankable Projects”. Klinke said Nigeria had made significant progress in maritime reforms and climate action, but stressed that the next phase must focus on implementation and converting policy ambitions into scalable, investment-ready projects.
“Policy alone does not reduce emissions. Strategies do not decarbonise ports. Frameworks do not attract investment. Projects do,” he said. He said regulatory clarity, project readiness, reliable emissions data and stronger integration of ports with road, rail and inland logistics networks were critical to attracting investment and delivering both economic and environmental benefits.
Noting that maritime transport accounts for more than 80 per cent of global trade by volume, Klinke said decarbonising the sector was essential to achieving climate goals while strengthening Nigeria’s long-term economic competitiveness. “The question before us is no longer whether decarbonisation will happen.
He identified reducing equipment use and fuel consumption, cutting truck waiting times and congestion, improving cargo flow and operational efficiency, supporting cleaner energy solutions and preparing for lower-emission technologies as key priorities. “Maritime decarbonisation is not only a fuels challenge.
It is also an operational challenge,” De Backker said. Representing Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hadejia called for urgent policy reforms, stronger public-private partnerships and innovative risk-sharing mechanisms to attract domestic and foreign investment into green infrastructure.
He said greater participation by the private sector, development finance institutions and institutional investors would be required, supported by well-prepared projects capable of attracting long-term capital.