Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi says scanners and data analytics will replace physical cargo examinations to speed up port operations and strengthen security…..
The Nigeria Customs Service has announced plans to completely phase out physical cargo examinations at Nigerian ports by December 2026 as part of a sweeping push toward technology-driven trade facilitation.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the service will increasingly rely on scanning machines and advanced data analytics to inspect cargo, replacing the traditional manual examination process that has long slowed port operations.
Adeniyi made the announcement in Apapa on Tuesday during the unveiling of the CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Analytical Arena, a newly constructed two-storey complex designed to serve as the nerve centre for intelligence and analytics within the command.
The facility houses the service’s analytics centre, the Customs Intelligence Unit, a command clinic, and several strategic operational offices.
According to Adeniyi, the shift toward technology-based inspections is part of a broader effort to modernise cargo clearance in Nigeria, reduce port congestion, and strengthen enforcement capabilities.
“Physical examinations will be completely phased out by December 2026, as the Service will focus on scanning machines and data analytics,” he said.
He explained that data analytics will play a central role in identifying high-risk shipments while allowing compliant cargo to move through ports more efficiently.
The Customs boss noted that the immediate objective is to significantly expand the proportion of cargo subjected to scanning across Nigeria’s major entry points before the end of the year.
These locations include Apapa Port, Tin Can Island Port, Port Harcourt, Onne, and Calabar, among other operational commands.
Data from the Apapa Command illustrates the current imbalance between manual inspections and technology-driven checks.
Adeniyi revealed that the command processed 21,373 consignments through the Red channel, which requires full physical examination, compared with 3,236 shipments scanned through the Orange channel. Meanwhile, 5,490 consignments passed through the Yellow channel for documentary checks, 1,118 through the Blue channel, and 149 through the Green channel.
He said the goal is to gradually reverse this trend by expanding the use of scanners so that only high-risk cargo will require deeper inspection.
The Customs chief also urged importers and traders to ensure accurate cargo declarations and consider enrolling in the Authorised Economic Operator programme, a compliance initiative designed to grant trusted traders faster processing and fewer inspections.
According to him, improved compliance among traders will significantly reduce the need for intrusive checks and help legitimate cargo move through Nigerian ports more quickly.
Earlier in his remarks, the Customs Area Controller for the Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, described the new analytical facility as a major step toward intelligence-led customs operations.
Oshoba said the complex will support advanced data analysis, intelligence gathering, and improved operational coordination within the command, while also providing better welfare facilities for officers.
He explained that the building houses the Hi-Tech Analytics Centre, the Customs Intelligence Unit, the command clinic, and several key operational offices.
The controller added that the project was delivered through collaboration with stakeholders under the Customs-PACT partnership, which he said played a critical role in bringing the initiative to life.
Oshoba praised the leadership of Adeniyi for prioritising efficiency, innovation, and staff welfare, noting that these efforts are helping transform the Customs Service into a more modern and intelligence-driven institution.
He also linked the initiative to the broader goal of reducing physical examinations at Nigerian ports, saying greater reliance on scanning and analytics will help decongest terminals, improve trade facilitation, and strengthen enforcement against smuggling.
Ultimately, Customs officials believe that expanding the use of scanning technology and improving trader compliance will allow the service to target only high-risk shipments while enabling legitimate trade to move faster through the country’s ports.
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