… ramps up scanner deployment ahead of Apapa Port take-off
From Rotimi Asher, Lagos
Yahaya Umar
Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has stepped up efforts to boost excise revenue and deepen compliance, engaging key manufacturers and excise-paying firms in a month-long sensitisation drive aimed at strengthening government earnings.
The familiarisation and stakeholder engagement programme, followed the assumption of office by the Customs Area Controller, Lagos Industrial Area Command, Comptroller Adebola Salawu.
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Juliana Tomo, the initiative was designed to enhance collaboration with industry players and improve the Command’s overall excise revenue performance.
Addressing stakeholders during the engagements, Comptroller Salawu reviewed existing excise payment processes and stressed the importance of prompt and accurate remittance in line with statutory requirements.
“I reaffirm my commitment to contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic advancement, and I regard this effort as a patriotic responsibility”, Salawu said.
She warned that non-compliance and delayed payments would attract penalties under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, urging manufacturers to prioritise transparency and adherence to regulations.
“The B’Odogwu platform is designed to ensure seamless, transparent and efficient excise duty payments. Payment delays could attract penalties, including a 10 per cent surcharge on late excise duties, in addition to other sanctions for trade violations”, she cautioned.
Salawu encouraged excise-paying firms to fully adopt the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as the B’Odogwu platform, for real-time payment and monitoring of excise obligations.
She also highlighted Customs’ broader trade facilitation initiatives aimed at improving the ease of doing business and supporting private sector growth, including export facilitation processes, the one-stop-shop initiative, the Authorised Economic Operators programme, Advance Ruling, and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
The Command said the engagements reflect Customs’ resolve to combine enforcement with partnership, as it seeks to expand excise revenue while fostering a more compliant and business-friendly operating environment.
Meanwhile, ahead of the launch of its digital cargo operations, the Nigeria Customs Service ,NCS, has stepped up preparations for the official take-off of the newly installed FS6000 scanning machine at APM Terminals, Apapa, as the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT, DCG Oluyomi Adebakin, on Monday inspected the facility.
The visit forms part of the build-up to the deployment of the scanners, which have recently completed final test runs and simulation exercises at the terminal, in furtherance of the Service’s drive toward paperless cargo clearance, enhanced trade facilitation and improved operational efficiency.
Speaking during the inspection of the scanning site at the jetty side of APM Terminals, DCG Adebakin said the visit was to ensure adequate pre-deployment arrangements and overall preparedness for a seamless transition to full scanning operations in line with international best practices.
“The reason for this visit is the pre-arrangement and preparation for the take-up of the FX6000 scanning machine at the Jetty side of APMT, so that we can have a seamless transition to a scanning system which aligns with international best practices”, she said.
On the readiness of the Service to deploy scanning and ICT solutions for effective cargo examination, the DCG stressed that preparedness is a tripartite responsibility involving the Nigeria Customs Service, APM Terminals, and the Trade Modernisation Project ,TMP.
She disclosed that the level of readiness currently stands at about 80 percent, adding that the remaining critical components would be fully addressed before commissioning.
“From what we have seen, we can say that we are 80% ready. The remaining 20% is very vital, and I believe that prior to commissioning, it will be properly fixed. From the scanning examination and system analysis carried out, the system is good to go, and between now and the commissioning, we will achieve a proper take-up”, she noted.
Highlighting the benefits stakeholders should expect after commissioning, DCG Adebakin assured port users of seamless operations, faster cargo clearance, reduced demurrage, ease of doing business and a balanced approach between trade facilitation and compliance.
“The era of scattering people’s goods in the name of examination is over. This is a non-intrusive inspection system in line with international best practices. It is to the advantage of importers, consignees, terminal operators and the Service. The scanner has a throughput capacity of about 200 containers per hour”, she added.
The visit builds on the recent completion of the final simulation exercise conducted on November 6, 2025, under the supervision of the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, where the scanners were successfully tested for real-time synchronisation of scanned images with electronic declarations.
Comptroller Oshoba has reiterated the Command’s commitment to supporting the Service’s ICT-driven reforms and working closely with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to full scanner-based cargo examination at Apapa Port.
