Apapa Port Gears Up for Tech-Driven Cargo Checks as Comptroller Oshoba Hails New Scanners
Kathy Kyari
The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is preparing for a new phase of trade facilitation with the installation of three state-of-the-art cargo scanners capable of examining 200 containers per hour.
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba, who inspected the location for the installation, said the development represents a giant stride under the Service’s modernisation project.
“Apapa Port Command is ready to surpass expectations as the scanners would be examining 200 containers per hour,” Oshoba stated.
Describing the scanners’ quayside location as “an operational masterstroke,” he assured stakeholders that no consignment would escape high-tech, non-intrusive inspection. He added that the machines will be strategically positioned close to the berthing area for maximum efficiency.
The CAC commended Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his commitment to modernisation, urging officers to prepare for “train-the-trainer sessions” ahead of full deployment.
He further tasked ICT officers to strengthen capacity in tier-one and tier-two scanner maintenance, noting that these models are the first of their kind in West and Central Africa.
Calling the project “a great milestone about to happen,” Oshoba advised port users including importers, exporters, and agents to embrace sincere declarations, warning that false declarations and concealments would be exposed by the advanced technology.
Expressing gratitude to the CGC, he said:
“I want to, on behalf of our officers and men, thank the CGC for leading us through an era of revolutionary customs modernisation. The coming of these scanners is one of the many great fruits we shall be harvesting from the modernisation project.”
According to Oshoba, the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) has assured that installation will last 45 days. Two scanners will be provided by TMP, while APM Terminals is delivering an additional unit. He added that a mobile scanner would also be supplied by APM Terminals as backup to prevent downtime.
“These three scanners would ensure that there is no downtime for cargo examination here and reinforce our position as the number one destination for port activities in Nigeria,” Oshoba said. “All hands must be on deck to see to the full realisation of this dream which would save time, increase revenue, enhance national security, promote trade and prevent port-related crimes from the earliest point of entry.”
At the site, TMP Team Leader Aliyu Suleiman explained that the scanners, produced by Nuctech in China, are the NUCTECH FS6000 model. He described them as high-throughput, non-intrusive, drive-through X-ray inspection systems for cargo and vehicles.
He noted that the scanners use “high-penetration dual-energy X-ray transmission technology to inspect trucks and containers in one pass at speeds up to 15 km/h, allowing for non-stop inspection at busy locations like ports and border crossings.”
Suleiman added that the system produces detailed images to detect concealed contraband and dangerous materials, while its modular design supports relocation and integration with other technologies such as License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).
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