Get Ready for Smooth Trade Operations: Oshoba’s Message to Stakeholders as Apapa Customs Prepares for 200 Containers per Hour Scanning

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Apapa Port Command is set to revolutionize trade processes with the installation of three new fixed scanners, which will examine 200 containers per hour.
This development is a significant milestone in the NCS modernization project, aimed at enhancing trade efficiency, revenue generation, and national security.
Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba, Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, has urged port users and stakeholders to brace up for a more seamless trade process.
He made this statement during an inspection of the location for the installation of the scanners, which will be strategically positioned close to the berthing area.
This quayside location is an operational masterstroke, ensuring that no consignment will escape high-tech driven, non-intrusive inspection at Apapa port.
The scanners, produced by Nuctech in China, are described as NUCTECH FS6000 with high-throughput, non-intrusive, drive-through X-ray inspection systems for cargo and vehicles. They 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. The system provides detailed images that help identify concealed contraband and dangerous materials.
Comptroller Oshoba commended the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his relentless commitment to NCS modernization.
He also urged officers to prepare for intensive train-the-trainer sessions, as the next phase after installation would be training ahead of full deployment. Additionally, he 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 their kind in West and Central Africa.
The installation of the scanners is expected to last for 45 days, with two units of scanners provided by the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and an additional one from APM Terminals. APM Terminals has also promised to provide a mobile scanner to serve as support in the event of unexpected downtime.
This development will save time, increase revenue, enhance national security, promote trade, and prevent port-related crimes from the earliest point of entry.
Comptroller Oshoba expressed gratitude to the CGC for leading the NCS through an era of revolutionary Customs modernization. He described the coming of these scanners as one of the many great fruits that will be harvested from the modernization project.
The CAC also advised port users, especially importers, exporters, and their agents, to uphold the tenet of sincere declaration, as all false declarations and concealment would be exposed by the technology.
The Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Team Leader, Aliyu Suleiman, provided details on the scanners, highlighting their capabilities and features.
He noted that 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).The introduction of the scanners at Apapa Port Command is a significant step towards achieving a more efficient and secure trade process. With the ability to examine 200 containers per hour, the command is poised to surpass expectations and reinforce its position as the number one destination for port activities in Nigeria.