Nigerian Customs Goes Digital: Apapa Command Pilots Electronic Cargo Tracking System
Kathy Kyari
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a major step toward modernizing cargo monitoring and trade facilitation with the launch of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) — a digital innovation designed to enhance national security, boost revenue generation, and ensure seamless cargo movement across Nigeria’s ports.
The pilot phase of the initiative was conducted on November 5, 2025, using a container designated for the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, marking the first practical deployment of real-time electronic monitoring for containerized cargo in Nigeria.
Speaking during the launch at the Apapa Port, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described the ECTS as “a strategic innovation that enables real-time monitoring of cargo movement from the point of departure to the final destination.”
He explained that the system uses electronic seals and handheld devices to track containers, ensuring transparency, preventing tampering, and eliminating diversion of goods in transit.
According to him, Apapa Command is serving as the pilot site for the nationwide rollout of the technology, which is expected to drastically reduce the need for physical escorts as Customs officers can now monitor cargo electronically.
Comptroller Oshoba also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his visionary leadership, describing him as “a reform-driven administrator who has consistently championed automation and innovation.”
He noted that similar tracking systems are already in use in several countries and that the CGC, in his capacity as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO), has ensured Nigeria’s alignment with global best practices to improve the trade environment.
The Head of B’Odogwu Implementation at Apapa Command, Deputy Comptroller Aondona Christopher Fanyam, further explained that the ECTS ensures the integrity of cargo in transit by preventing unauthorized access.
“Before the container reaches Kano Command, it remains sealed and cannot be opened until proper authorisation is confirmed at the destination,” he said.
Fanyam added that the system provides three secure unlocking options — remotely via the central control system, locally through an authorized handheld device such as a mobile phone used by trained officers, or by using a physical unlocking card at the destination.
“These layered access options are part of the system’s built-in safeguards to prevent unauthorised tampering or diversion during transit,” he said. “The combination of remote control, handheld verification, and a physical card ensures that only properly authorised personnel can release cargo, reinforcing cargo integrity and strengthening overall security and revenue protection.”
Also speaking, the Team Leader of the Training Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs Rosemary Ebele Wenceslas, disclosed that a total of 12 officers have been trained for the pilot phase of the ECTS.
According to her, the team drawn from the Rapid Response Unit of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, and the Enforcement Team of Apapa Command underwent intensive training to operate and manage the new technology effectively.
She stated, “All Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to the ECTS have been clearly communicated to them, enabling smooth implementation of the initiative.”
CSC Wenceslas added that with their enhanced technical capacity, the officers are “well equipped and ready to deploy the devices effectively, ensuring that the pilot stage achieves its objectives of enhanced cargo monitoring, security, and trade facilitation."
0 Comments