Customs Tests China-Made Scanners To Curb Cargo Diversion

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has examined newly acquired cargo scanners and digital monitoring know-how in China as a part of efforts to scale back cargo diversion, detect smuggled items and strengthen monitoring of shipments getting into and transferring throughout Nigeria.

The two-week Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), carried out from October 9 to twenty, 2026, on the facility of Chinese know-how producer Nuctech Company Limited, concerned a delegation of technical consultants from the NCS and Trade Modernisation Project Limited (TMPL).

The gear includes Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) scanners and an Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), that are anticipated to work collectively to enhance cargo examination and allow real-time monitoring of shipments from ports to their locations.

According to the Customs Service, the know-how is anticipated to scale back reliance on bodily cargo inspections, restrict human contact throughout examinations and make it tougher for items to be diverted earlier than reaching their declared locations.

The delegation was led by Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Oluyomi Adebakin, who oversees the Information Communication and Technology/Modernisation Department.

Adebakin stated the manufacturing facility acceptance check was a quality-assurance train designed to confirm that the gear met contractual specs and worldwide operational requirements earlier than being shipped to Nigeria.

She stated the deployment aligned with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi’s, technique to make use of know-how to enhance commerce facilitation, income assortment and nationwide safety.

“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 stated.

The new methods are anticipated to strengthen Customs’ capability to establish prohibited gadgets hid in cargo whereas decreasing delays related to extended bodily inspections.

Acting Comptroller of Non-Intrusive Inspection, Deputy Comptroller Umar Madugu, stated the scanners and digital monitoring system would enhance operational effectivity throughout Customs formations by decreasing the necessity for 100 per cent bodily examination of cargo.

He added that the know-how would additionally assist curb cargo diversion and minimise direct human contact throughout inspection procedures.

Bamidele Chinedu, General Manager of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, described the train as a milestone in implementing the Customs modernisation venture.

He stated integrating non-intrusive inspection scanners with digital cargo monitoring was central to establishing a extra clear, technology-driven Customs system.

Niu Chao, Project Manager at Nuctech Company Limited, stated the Chinese producer was dedicated to supplying the gear and offering technical assist, capability constructing and after-sales companies.

The train additionally included coaching for technical personnel from the NCS and TMPL on working, dealing with and sustaining the scanners and monitoring system forward of their deployment in Nigeria.

The Customs Service stated the coaching was meant to make sure efficient implementation and long-term sustainability of the know-how.