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LAGOS – The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), has launched the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), a digital innovation aimed at enhancing national security, boosting revenue generation, and facilitating seamless trade across Nigeria’s ports.
John Tunde Ayagbalo, Customs Public Relations Officer, Apapa Area Command, disclosed in a statement made available to newsmen.
Ayagbalo, a Superintendent of Customs (SC), said the pilot phase of the initiative was conducted using a container designated for the Kano/Jigawa Area Command on November 5, 2025 marking the first practical deployment of the technology in real-time cargo monitoring.
The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, who spoke during the launch at the Apapa Port described the ECTS as a strategic innovation that enables real time monitoring of cargo movement from the point of departure to the final destination. He explained that the system uses electronic seals and handheld devices to track containers, ensuring transparency, preventing tampering, and eliminating diversion of goods in transit.
Comptroller Oshoba noted that Apapa Command, is serving as the pilot stage for the nationwide rollout of the initiative, adding that the technology would drastically reduce the need for physical escorts, as customs officers can now monitor cargo movement electronically.
The CAC also commended the vision of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, describing him as a reform-driven administrator who had consistently championed automation and innovation.
He highlighted that the ECTS had already been implemented in several countries and as the current Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO), the CGC has ensured that Nigeria adopts similar modern tools to improve its trade environment.