Nigeria Customs Service tests new cargo tracking and scanning technology

A delegation from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Trade Modernisation Project Limited (TMPL) has begun a two-week Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) in China for new Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) equipment and an Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS). The testing, conducted at the Nuctech Company Limited facility, aims to verify that the high-tech scanners and tracking systems meet contractual and global operational standards before being shipped to Nigeria.

The new technology is intended to enhance cargo examination, enable real-time monitoring from port to destination, and reduce the need for physical examinations. Officials stated the deployment aims to minimize human contact, curb cargo diversion, and improve revenue generation while facilitating legitimate trade.

Separately, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adeniyi, emphasized that intelligence, data, and joint patrols with international neighbors are more effective at curbing smuggling than closing borders. He noted that previous border closures reorganized rather than destroyed smuggling networks, arguing that intelligent control is a sharper tool for national security and revenue protection.