The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Oluwadare Oshoba has said the command is at the verge of scanning not less than 200 containers per hour.
To this end, he has enjoined port users and stakeholders to brace up for what he called a “more seamless trade process” following more giant strides being achieved by NCS modernisation project with the commencement of fixed scanners installation in Nigeria’s premier port, Apapa, Lagos.
Oshoba stated this shortly after inspecting the location for the installation of three new scanners at the nation’s seaport situated in Apapa.
According to the CAC, the command is ready to surpass expectations as the scanners would be examining no fewer than 200 containers per hour.
Describing the quayside location for the scanners as an operational masterstroke, Oshoba averred that no consignment will escape high-tech driven, non-intrusive inspection at Apapa port as the scanners would be strategically positioned close to the berthing area.
The CAC who commended the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his relentless commitment to NCS modernisation project also urged officers to prepare for intensive train the trainer sessions as the next phase after installation would be training ahead of full deployment
A statement issued by the command and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tunde Ayagbalo quoted Oshoba advising NCS Information Communication Technology (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 Sub-regions.
Ayagbalo, a Superintendent of Customs (SC) also quoted Oshoba describing 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.
According to the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits, the CAC expressed gratitude to the CGC for the strides the command has made over the years.
His words: “I want to on behalf of our officers 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 an 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 realisation of this dream which would save time, increase revenue, enhance national security, promote trade and prevent port related crimes from the earliest point of entry.”
The TMP Team Leader, Mr. Aliyu Suleiman in his remarks at the site, gave details on the scanners produced by NUCTECH in China.
He described them as the NUCTECH FS6000 with a high-throughput, non-intrusive, drive-through X-ray inspection system for cargo and vehicles.
Suleiman added that the scanners 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.
According to him, 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)
He disclosed that in addition to the three fixed scanners about being installed, APM Terminals has also promised to provide a mobile scanner to serve as support in the event of unexpected downtime.
