First electronic tracking system to curb smuggling, enhance trade efficiency unveiled in Apapa
By Uzor Odigbo
The Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Apapa has unveiled the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), designed to strengthen national security, enhance revenue collection, and facilitate trade efficiency.
The first phase of the initiative was successfully launched on November 5, 2025, with containers bound for the Kano/Jigawa Area Commands. This marks the first deployment of the ECTS for cargo monitoring in Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch held at the Apapa Port, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, described the ECTS as a strategic reform that enables real-time monitoring of cargo movement from the point of loading to the point of delivery. He explained that the system employs electronic seals and handheld tracking devices to ensure transparency, prevent tampering, and eliminate diversion of goods while in transit.
Comptroller Oshoba emphasised that Apapa Command is serving as the pilot stage for the nationwide rollout of the innovation. According to him, the system will significantly reduce the need for physical escorts, as customs officers can now monitor cargo electronically.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his visionary leadership and commitment to digital transformation, noting that similar systems have been successfully adopted in several other countries. Oshoba said that as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO), the CGC has ensured Nigeria aligns with international best practices in customs operations and trade facilitation.
The Head of B’Odogwu Implementation at Apapa Command, Deputy Comptroller Aondona Christopher Fanyam, explained that containers remain electronically sealed throughout their journey until proper authorisation is confirmed at the destination.
He said the system provided three secure unlocking methods remotely through a central control system, locally via authorised handheld devices, or physically using a special unlocking card. These measures, he added, provide multiple layers of protection against unauthorised access or diversion of goods, thereby reinforcing cargo integrity and strengthening revenue protection.
Also speaking, the Team Leader of the Training Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Rosemary Ebele Wenceslas, disclosed that 12 officers have been trained to manage the pilot phase of the ECTS. The team, drawn from the Rapid Response Unit of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A (Ikeja) and the Enforcement Unit of the Apapa Command, has undergone intensive capacity-building sessions on the system’s operation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
CSC Wenceslas noted that the trained officers are now fully equipped to deploy the technology effectively, ensuring the success of the pilot phase and advancing the Service’s goal of smarter, technology-driven customs operations.
The launch of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System mark a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s trade ecosystem through innovation, accountability, and enhanced security.
