By Juliet Ezeh
The Nigeria Customs Service has said it will intensify the use of scanning technology and data analytics at the nation’s seaports in a move aimed at reducing congestion and accelerating cargo clearance.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the Service was expanding scanner deployment across major entry points including Apapa, Tin Can Island, Port Harcourt, Onne, and Calabar ports.
According to him, the initiative forms part of broader reforms designed to modernise customs operations, improve trade facilitation, and strengthen cargo inspection processes.
Adeniyi explained that the agency intends to significantly increase the proportion of consignments subjected to scanning rather than manual inspection as part of efforts to streamline port activities.
He said the reform would help decongest ports and allow faster processing of cargo, thereby improving Nigeria’s trade environment.
“Physical examinations will be completely phased out by December 2026, as the Service would then focus on scanning machines and data analytics,” the Customs boss said.
Data from the Apapa Command, he noted, currently shows a heavy dependence on physical inspections, with over 21,000 consignments examined manually compared to just over 3,000 processed through scanning systems.
The Customs chief said the transition to technology-driven inspections would allow officers to focus enforcement efforts on high-risk shipments while ensuring that compliant traders experience faster cargo clearance.
He also urged importers and exporters to ensure accurate cargo declarations and participate in the Authorised Economic Operator programme, which provides trusted traders with streamlined clearance processes.
Earlier, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, said the newly inaugurated analytical facility would strengthen intelligence-driven operations within the command.
He explained that the two-storey building houses a Hitech Analytics Centre, Customs Intelligence Unit, and other strategic offices aimed at enhancing data-driven enforcement and operational efficiency.
Oshoba added that the move would further support the Service’s plan to reduce physical examinations and improve trade facilitation across Nigeria’s ports.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.