Get Ready for Seamless Trade, Comptroller Oshoba Urges Stakeholders, As Apapa Customs Command Prepares Scanning 200 Containers Hourly.

By Joe Njoku,
Global Freight News.

The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Premier Port Command, Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba has urged port users and stakeholders to prepare for more seamless trade process following more gaint strides being achieved by the Nigeria Customs Service Modernisation project with the commencement of fixed scanners installation.

Speaking shortly after inspecting the location for the installation of three new scanners at the port, comptroller Oshoba said Apapa port command is ready to surpass expectations as the scanners would be examining 200 containers per day.

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

He commended the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for his relentless commitment to NCS Modernisation l. He also urged the 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 first of its kind in the West and Central Africa subregion.

He 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 all false declarations and concealment would be exposed by the technology.

He expressed gratitude to the CGC, “I want to on behalf of our offices 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 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 realization of these dream which would save time, increase revenue, enhance national security, promote trade and prevent port related crime from earliest point of entry,” he said.

Also speaking on the development, Aliyu Suleiman, TMP Team Leader at the site, gave details on the scanners produced by Nuctech in China l. He described them as the NUCTECH FS6000 with a high throughput, non intrusive, drive through X ray inspection system for cargo and vehicles.

He said that the scanners use high penetration dual energy X-ray transmission technology to inspect trucks and containers in one pass at speed up to 15km/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 it’s compact, modular design allows for easy location and integration with other systems like license Plate Recognition (LPR) and Radio Frequency identification (RFID).

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