APM Terminals Apapa leads clean-up exercise at Lagos Port Complex

Nigeria’s largest container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa, has reinforced its commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible port operations by spearheading a large-scale clean-up exercise across key corridors of the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, as part of activities marking the company’s 2026 Go Green Week.

In a statement released on Tuesday, APM Terminals said the initiative saw employees of APM Terminals Apapa mobilised to clean major access roads within the port environment, demonstrating the company’s commitment to reducing waste, promoting environmental stewardship and contributing to cleaner and more resilient ecosystems in and around Nigeria’s busiest port.

Go Green Week is APM Terminals’ annual global environmental awareness and action campaign aimed at accelerating the company’s ambition of achieving net-zero operations by 2040 through impactful, community-focused environmental initiatives.

This year’s theme, “Healthy Ecosystems… More Resilient and Sustainable Business,” highlights the strong connection between thriving natural environments and sustainable business performance. Across APM Terminals’ global network, employees are being encouraged to translate environmental commitments into tangible action through clean-up campaigns, recycling programmes, tree planting and habitat restoration projects.

At the Lagos Port Complex, the clean-up exercise covered a substantial stretch of the port corridor, beginning at the Finger Jetty and extending through the common-user road to Eko Support Services, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Roundabout, Adekunle Road and the main gate of APM Terminals Apapa.

Equipped with cleaning tools and protective gear, employees collected and properly disposed of significant volumes of waste, including plastic materials, nylon packaging, wooden planks, bottles, stones and other debris that had accumulated along the port access roads.

The exercise also attracted the participation and support of employees of the Nigerian Ports Authority, underscoring the importance of collaboration among port stakeholders in maintaining a cleaner and more sustainable operating environment.

Speaking during the exercise, the Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa, Kamal Alhraishat, described Go Green Week as an important platform for raising environmental awareness and encouraging collective action within the port community.

“Go Green Week is an opportunity for us to reinforce the importance of operating responsibly and sustainably while reducing the environmental impact of our activities. Through initiatives such as tree planting, environmental awareness sessions and community clean-up exercises, we are translating our environmental commitments into meaningful action and encouraging everyone to play their part in protecting the environment,” he said.

Alhraishat noted that the company’s sustainability efforts extended far beyond the clean-up campaign. Earlier in the week, employees participated in a tree-planting initiative during which more than 25 bags of frangipani plants and Pride of Barbados seeds were planted to support biodiversity and improve green spaces within the terminal environment.

He further disclosed that the company would host an environmental town hall session for employees, facilitated by environmental sustainability partners, to provide practical guidance on responsible waste management and environmentally conscious practices at work and at home.

Also speaking, the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Manager of APM Terminals Apapa, Felix Ugwuagbo, emphasised that sustainability remained an integral part of the company’s operations and decision-making processes.

“At APM Terminals, sustainability is a fundamental part of how we operate our business every day. Go Green Week gives us an opportunity to step beyond our terminal gates and work collectively to improve the environment we share with other port users. A clean port is a safer, healthier and more efficient port, and that directly supports trade, protects the well-being of workers and strengthens the resilience of Nigeria’s supply chain,” he said.

Ugwuagbo added that environmental responsibility must be embedded in everyday operations and embraced by all port users if meaningful progress is to be achieved.

The Assistant Manager, NPA Environment, Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, Umar Ibrahim, commended the initiative and highlighted the critical role of effective waste management in supporting safe and efficient operations.

According to Ibrahim, maintaining a clean port environment not only protects public health and preserves the ecosystem but also ensures the smooth movement of people and cargo throughout the port.

He noted that prompt waste removal helps reduce environmental hazards, improve air quality and contribute to safer and more efficient port operations for the benefit of all stakeholders.

The clean-up exercise forms part of APM Terminals Apapa’s broader sustainability agenda and reflects the company’s continued efforts to drive positive environmental impact while fostering a culture of shared responsibility among members of the port community.

As global attention increasingly turns to sustainable business practices, initiatives such as Go Green Week demonstrate how practical environmental action can deliver lasting benefits for businesses, communities and the ecosystems on which they depend.