Apapa Customs Gears Up for Seamless Trade as Scanners Set to Inspect 200 Containers Per Hour
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) is set to usher in a new era of trade facilitation at the nation’s busiest seaport, as the Apapa Command prepares to deploy advanced fixed scanners capable of examining 200 containers per hour.
Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Apapa Command, Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba, disclosed this after inspecting the quayside location where three new scanners will be installed.
He described the development as a “milestone achievement” under the NCS modernisation project, noting that the new technology would significantly cut down delays, boost revenue, and enhance national security.
According to him, the scanners – strategically positioned near the berthing area – will ensure that no consignment escapes non-intrusive, high-tech driven inspection.
“This is an operational masterstroke. With these scanners, Apapa will surpass expectations. All false declarations and concealment will be exposed, and no container will evade examination,” Comptroller Oshoba stated.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for driving the Service’s modernisation agenda, describing the initiative as a revolution in cargo clearance.
“On behalf of our officers and men, I thank the CGC for leading us through this era of revolutionary customs modernisation. These scanners are just one of the many fruits of the project,” Oshoba added.
The CAC revealed that the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) has committed to completing the installation within 45 days, with two scanners coming from TMP and an additional one from APM Terminals.
The trio of scanners, he said, will ensure uninterrupted cargo examination and reinforce Apapa’s position as Nigeria’s premier port. In addition, APM Terminals has pledged a mobile scanner to provide back-up support in case of unexpected downtime.
To prepare for deployment, Comptroller Oshoba urged customs officers to brace up for “train-the-trainer” sessions on the use and maintenance of the scanners. He particularly called on NCS ICT officers to strengthen their capacity for tier one and tier two levels of maintenance, stressing that the equipment is the first of its kind in West and Central Africa.
Highlighting the scanners’ specifications, TMP Team Leader at the site, Aliyu Suleiman, explained that they are NUCTECH FS6000 models manufactured in China. The system, he noted, is a high-throughput, non-intrusive, drive-through X-ray inspection technology capable of scanning trucks and containers at speeds of up to 15 km/h without stopping.
“The scanners use high-penetration dual-energy X-ray transmission technology, providing detailed images that help identify concealed contraband and dangerous materials. Their compact, modular design also allows for easy relocation and integration with other systems such as License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),” Suleiman explained.
Comptroller Oshoba urged port users – importers, exporters, and clearing agents – to uphold the principles of sincerity and compliance, stressing that the era of concealment and false declarations was drawing to a close.
“All hands must be on deck to see the full realisation of this dream. It will save time, increase revenue, enhance security, promote trade, and prevent port-related crimes right from the earliest point of entry,” he affirmed.
