Odita Sunday 
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba, has assured stakeholders of more seamless trade processes as the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) modernisation project kicks off installation of three new fixed scanners.
He stated this during an inspection of the quayside site where the scanners will be deployed, describing it as an “operational masterstroke.”
According to Oshoba, the scanners — each capable of examining 200 containers per hour — will transform cargo examination in Apapa and the entire region.
“No consignment will escape high-tech, non-intrusive inspection at Apapa Port. The scanners will ensure efficiency, security, and zero tolerance for false declaration,” Oshoba declared.
He lauded the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for driving the reform and urged officers to brace up for intensive training and capacity building.
Aliyu Suleiman, Team Leader of the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), explained that the scanners, produced by Chinese firm Nuctech, are the FS6000 type — high-throughput, dual-energy X-ray systems capable of inspecting trucks and containers in one pass at speeds up to 15km/h.
“They provide detailed images for identifying contraband and can be integrated with systems such as License Plate Recognition (LPR) and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID),” he said.
He added that the project timeline for installation is 45 days, with APM Terminals also pledging an additional mobile scanner as backup.
Oshoba advised importers, exporters, and their agents to ensure honest declarations, saying concealments will be easily detected.
“This is a revolutionary moment for Customs operations in Nigeria. The scanners will save time, increase revenue, enhance security, and reinforce Apapa as the nation’s top port of choice,” he said.
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