By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Trade Modernisation Project Limited (TMPL) have completed a two-week inspection and testing of newly acquired cargo scanners and an Electronic Cargo Tracking System in China ahead of their planned deployment in Nigeria.
The Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), which took place from 9 to 20 October 2026 at the facility of Nuctech Company Limited, the equipment manufacturer, brought together technical personnel from the Customs Service and TMPL to examine the equipment before shipment to Nigeria.
The delegation was led by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Information Communication and Technology/Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin.
The scanners, known as Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) equipment, are designed to enable Customs officers examine cargo without opening every container or consignment. When used alongside the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), they are expected to help officers detect concealed and prohibited goods and monitor cargo movements from the ports to their destinations.
Speaking during the exercise, Adebakin said the Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, was determined to deploy equipment that would improve cargo examination, reduce delays, protect government revenue and strengthen border security.
She explained that the factory test was necessary to confirm that the equipment met the specifications agreed upon before it was shipped to Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of CGC Adeniyi, is committed to ensuring that we deploy only cutting-edge, fit-for-purpose technology that will fast-track cargo examination, reduce dwell time, and enhance our ability to detect concealments and prohibited items, improve revenue generation, as well as facilitate legitimate trade,” Adebakin said.
The Acting Comptroller of Non-Intrusive Inspection, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Umar Madugu, said the scanners would reduce the reliance on 100 per cent physical examination of cargo and limit direct human contact during inspections.
He added that the electronic tracking system would assist officers in monitoring consignments and checking cases of cargo diversion, while the scanners would support the examination of goods at Customs-controlled locations.
For TMPL, the exercise was part of efforts to advance the technology component of the Trade Modernisation Project. The company’s General Manager, Bamidele Chinedu, said the combination of cargo scanners and electronic tracking would help improve transparency in Customs operations.
Niu Chao, Project Manager of Nuctech Company Limited, said the company would provide technical support, training and after-sales services for the equipment.
Customs and TMPL personnel also received training during the two-week exercise on operating and maintaining the scanners and the tracking system. The training is expected to prepare the teams responsible for the equipment when it arrives in Nigeria.
The equipment is expected to support Customs officers in examining cargo more efficiently, tracking consignments and identifying suspicious goods. Its impact will depend on effective deployment, proper maintenance and the ability of officers to use the technology in their daily operations.
