Cyber crime: criminals hack APM terminal system, operations grounded

Harboursandport: Lagos --- By Precious Duru 

Cargo clearing operations system at the APM Terminals Apapa, operators of the largest container terminal in the country, has been hacked into by criminals causing the management of the terminal to shut down the system.

The hacking was done at the international level affecting not just the Nigerian operations but some aspect of the international business. Several clearing agents confirmed that the terminal did not position any container Wesnesday after the long holidays.

A source close to APM Terminals said that they have been working at rectifying the problem since the holidays hoping to resume full operations Wednesday being the first working day of the week.

Deputy National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, Uchu Block, confirmed to Vanguard that there had been no positioning of containers for examination Wednesday by the terminal.

Block however said that a message was sent to customers by the management of APM Terminal informing them that they are embarking on system maintenance and therefore cannot position any container until it is completed.

However, the source noted that if it were to be normal maintenance as claimed by the management, why was it not done and completed during the long holidays and why is it affecting some aspect of their international business?

Spokesman of APM Terminal, Austin Fisher confirmed the hack to Vanguard, noting that they had made a press statement on it earlier on Wednesday.

The statement read in part, “APM Terminals IT systems have been compromised in some locations due to a cyber attack. A number of our terminals are not on these systems- those are not impacted by the attack.

“We are currently switching terminals with impaired IT systems to alternative ways of operating and continue to assess the situation.”

An updated statement by the management as at 7:15pm Wednesday read, “Majority of our terminals are now operational. Some of these terminals are operating slower than usual or with limited functionality. We continue to work towards full restoration of our IT systems,” it concluded.