Don Climax Backs Calls For More Indigenous Participation in Port Terminal Operations
Don Climax Backs Calls For More Indigenous Participation in Port Terminal Operations
- Don Climax Media
- April 2, 2026
As the review of expired concessions of Nigerian seaports terminals continues to drag, a bonded terminal operator, Don Climax Bonded Terminals, has voiced support for calls for more involvement of indigenous operators in terminal operations.
The Managing Director of the renowned bonded terminal, Mr. Donatus Obelle, said many indigenous operators now have what it takes to run the nation’s port terminals.
“Nigerian companies today have the technical partners, capital structure, and operational experience to run modern terminals. What we lack is fair access,” he told News Dissect, adding that “a concession review that recognizes competence over bias will unlock massive local investment”.
Mr. Obelle who commended the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the concessionaires for the success recorded by the port concession programme so far, said that a transparent concession review including more capable Nigerian operators could do more by repositioning the ports as stronger engines of national growth.
He further said including more Nigerian firms in terminal management and services will ensure a larger share of operational jobs and up-skilling for Nigerians, boosting employment and building technical capacity in the maritime sector.
He observed that domestic port terminal operators are more likely to align long-term with national development goals such as local supply chains, ports access roads, and hinterland integration.
According to Obelle, involving more Nigerian firms in port terminal operations will help retain value in the economy. “When Nigerian firms run terminals or supply critical services (towing, stevedoring, ICT, yard management, logistics), more of the port value chain’s earnings and procurement remain in the local economy,” he stressed.
He therefore called for a new concession agreement that prioritizes the interest of Nigeria, advising the government to set transparent qualification process –transparent technical and financial criteria for local firms to compete and also provide pre-qualification support to ensure genuinely capable Nigerian aspirants are not shut out by procedural barriers.
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