Apapa Customs Stop Physical Cargo Checks, Start Hourly Scanning Of 200 Containers

The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, announced the scanning of 200 containers per hour in line with the Service’s Trade Modernisation Project (TMP).

Speaking after inspecting the location for the installation of three new scanners at the port, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Port, Compt. Oluwadare Oshoba said the service has commenced the installation of fixed scanners to end physical examination of Cargoes at the Apapa seaport.

According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tunde Ayagbalo, the Customs CAC urged port users and stakeholders to prepare for a more seamless trade process.

While describing the quayside location for the scanners as an operational masterstroke, the CAC said no consignment will escape high-tech driven, non-intrusive inspection at Apapa port, as the scanners would be strategically positioned close to the berthing area.

The CAC, who commended CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his relentless commitment to NCS modernisation also urged officers to prepare for intensive train-the-trainer sessions as the next phase after installation would be training ahead of full deployment

He also advised NCS ICT officers to improve on capacity building for tier one and tier two levels of maintenance of the scanners, which are the first of its kind in the West and Central Africa subregion

Comptroller Oshoba described the feat as a great milestone about to happen and advised port users, especially importers, exporters, and their agents, to uphold the tenet of sincere declaration, as the technology would expose all false declarations and concealment.

Compt. Oshoba said, “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

“Our partners, the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), have assured us that the installation would last for 45 days, and we are expecting two units of scanners from them with an additional one from APM Terminals. 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

“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” the CAC said.

Also speaking, TMP Team Leader at the site, Aliyu Suleiman, gave details on the scanners produced by Nuctech in China.

He described them as the NUCTECH FS6000 with a high-throughput, non-intrusive, drive-through X-ray inspection system for cargo and vehicles.

He added 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.

According to the expert, the system provides detailed images that help identify concealed contraband and dangerous materials, and its compact, modular design allows for easy relocation and integration with other systems like License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

In addition to the three fixed scanners that are being installed, APM Terminals has also promised to provide a mobile scanner to serve as support in the event of unexpected downtime.