ZAINAB JUNAID
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the pilot phase of Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), a digital innovation aimed at enhancing national security, boosting revenue generation, and facilitating seamless trade across Nigeria’s Ports, at Apapa Command, Lagos.
In a statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Customs John Tunde Ayagbalo on 5 November 2025, the pilot phase of the initiative was conducted using a container designated for the Kano/Jigawa Area Command marking the first practical deployment of the technology in real-time cargo tracking.
Speaking during the launch, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described the initiative as a strategic innovation that enables real time monitoring of cargo movement from the point of departure to its final destination.
He said the system uses electronic seals and handheld devices to track containers, ensuring transparency, preventing tampering, and eliminating diversion of goods in transit.
According to Comptroller Oshoba, Apapa Command is serving as the pilot stage ahead of the nationwide rollout of the initiative and the technology would drastically reduce the need for physical escorts, as Customs Officers can now monitor cargo movement electronically.
The CAC also commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for the initiative, describing him as a reform-driven administrator who has consistently championed automation and innovation.
He noted that the ECTS is already in use in several countries and as the current Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, the CGC has spearheaded the efforts to introduce similar tools in Nigeria to enhance its trade environment.
The Head of B’Odogwu Implementation at Apapa Command, Deputy Comptroller Aondona Christopher Fanyam, informed that before the designated container will remain sealed till it reaches Kano Command, and cannot be opened until proper authorisation is confirmed at the destination.
He said the ECTS provides three secure methods for unlocking a container: through the central control system, via an authorised handheld device such as a mobile phone used by trained Officers, or by using a physical unlocking card designed specifically for use at the destination.
He added that these layered access options are part of the system’s built in safeguards to prevent unauthorised tampering or diversion during transit.
The combination of remote control, handheld verification, and a physical card ensures that only properly authorised personnel can release cargo, reinforcing cargo integrity and strengthening overall security and revenue protection.
The Team Lead of the training Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs , Rosemary Ebele Wenceslas said the service has trained a total of 12 Officers participating in the pilot phase of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS).
The team comprises personnel drawn from the Rapid Response Unit of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A Ikeja (FOU) and the Enforcement Team of Apapa Area Command.
According to her, the Officers have undergone intensive training to ensure they are fully prepared to manage and operate the new tracking technology efficiently. All Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to the ECTS have been clearly communicated to them, enabling smooth implementation of the initiative.
CSC Wenceslas noted that with the knowledge and technical capacity they have acquired, the Officers are well equipped and ready to deploy the devices effectively, ensuring that the pilot stage achieves its objectives of enhanced cargo monitoring, security, and trade facilitation.
