CEO Lekki Freeport Terminal Denrick Moos Receive Nigerian Logistics Award As Logistics Icon Of The Year

–Also Fubara Awanta GM/Head of Government Relations & Security of Lekki Freeport Terminal was given the Logistics Distinguished Person of the Year from the same organisation.

Dear audience, I want to start off with this very short speech by bestowing unmeasurable gratitude to His Excellency, Rotimi Amaechi, who invested significant time and effort on the Lekki Port project, and therefore also directly on Lekki Freeport Terminal also known as LFT, the only container terminal operator in Lekki Port, which is a business unit of the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions.

Throughout this project His Excellency, Rotimi Amaechi, consistently engaged all stakeholders to ensure directly Lekki Freeport Terminal will begin activity in the first quarter of 2023. I am proud to say that we have already started certain activities, and are awaiting the official opening of Lekki Port, before LFT can drive towards commercial activities. With the brand new Lekki Freeport Terminal expected to become fully operational by 2023 , CMA CGM is planning to progressively add ships with a larger capacity, over 10 000 TEUs, to and from Nigeria, and drastically grow the business in the near future. Your Excellency, thank you for your trust in the project and your consistent visits onsite, motivating all who were and still are involved in this project. Lekki Freeport Terminal would not be at this advance stage of the project if it was not for your unmeasurable support.

I also want to express belated congratulations to the current Minister of Transportation, His Excellency Mu’azu Jaji Sambo on your appointment. We have seen your involvement in the maritime industry and you certainly have hit the ground running visiting all the major maritime facilities. LFT is aware that you are no stranger to the industry and we are really looking forward to also benefit from your vast maritime experience.
Last but certainly not least in terms of our gratitude is to the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. Doctor, you have been a pillar of strength since being appointed in August 2020 as the Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Transportation. The Lekki Port project has benefitted immensely from your astute experience. LFT appreciates the value you have added to our journey, and will continue to add.

Africa, and in particular Nigeria has been labelled as a challenging environment for foreign business to operate in. Some have seen opportunities, ventured into these opportunities and could not navigate the operating environment and left subsequently. As you know, it is not the case of the Group.
The CMA CGM Group opened its first office in the country in 2007, and has grown from being a shipping line agency office, to a multi-modal logistics provider, thanks to Ceva logistics, and to a container terminal operator, the crown jewel.
The CMA CGM Group, as the foreign companies being present here today has indeed passed the test of the Nigerian market, thereby giving Nigeria the best value globally, in our respective areas of business as foreign business entities. This all would not be possible without the full support that we have received from the Federal Government of Nigeria, and for that the CMA CGM Group is extremely thankful. We are enthusiastic about this new terminal, which is set to become the largest container terminal in Nigeria and West Africa, and I would like to thank all workers involved in its construction on behalf of the CMA CGM Group.
Finally, I want to express my gratitude for receiving the award as Nigeria’s logistics icon of the year. Let me reiterate the award was made possible by the unwavering support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the CMA CGM Group and then the commitment of my team members in Lekki Freeport Terminal.
I thank you.
Speech from Denrick Moos CEO Lekki Freeport Terminal