The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its anti-smuggling operations and technological modernization drive with the seizure of contraband goods valued at ₦6.3 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos, alongside the commissioning of a Data Analytics Centre and the inspection of a newly installed Drive-Through Scanner.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, commissioned the facility during a visit to the Apapa Command, describing the development as a major step toward strengthening intelligence-driven operations and improving trade facilitation.
Adeniyi stressed that data has become the backbone of modern customs administration, noting that it serves as a vital tool for communication, cooperation and risk management in global trade.
“Data is the real currency of international business today. It is central to effective risk management and trade facilitation across borders,” he said.
The Comptroller-General also commissioned a clinic for officers at the command, underscoring the Service’s commitment to the health and welfare of its personnel.
Earlier, the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, described the new infrastructure as a turning point for intelligence-led enforcement and operational efficiency at the nation’s busiest seaport.
According to Oshoba, the facility known as the “CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Analytical Arena” houses key operational units, including the Analytics Centre of Excellence, which will drive data-based decision making in cargo profiling and anti-smuggling operations.
He said the project reflects the vision of the Customs leadership to deploy modern technology in tackling smuggling while facilitating legitimate trade under the Customs-PACT initiative.
The Comptroller-General and his management team also inspected the Drive-Through Scanner installed at APM Terminals, a technology expected to speed up cargo inspection and reduce port congestion.
Oshoba explained that the scanner would significantly reduce cargo dwell time, enhance security screening and improve operational efficiency at the port.
“This is a game-changer for Apapa Port, Nigeria’s busiest maritime gateway,” he said.
The initiatives form part of ongoing reforms by the Nigeria Customs Service aimed at strengthening enforcement, boosting revenue generation and aligning Nigeria’s port operations with global best practices.
