Apapa Customs to deploy scanners by February 2022

Controller Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta has assured that the command would deploy the scanner it received at the port for use before the end of February 2022.

The Apapa Command, including Tin Can Island and Onne Commands had in September 2021 taken delivery of mobile scanners made by Chinese firm Nuctech as part measures to facilitate trade and enhance delivery of cargoes to consignees.

Speaking on the delays in the deployment of the scanners five months after, Comptroller Malanta explained that the NCS is currently carrying out sychronisation of the scanners with the Customs NICIS 11 platform alongside training of officers on how to operate the scanners.

According to him, 70 percent of the synchronisation process has been achieved.

He noted that the scanners are acquired not only to boost revenue collection of the Service, but also for security of cargoes of the nation’s ports.

He said, “Scanner is not like a vehicle that you can just go and buy and start using, even on vehicles, when you buy it, you must pay customs duty and then you go for its registration at the FRSC office before you can start driving it.

“We thank God that the scanners have been deployed, and due to the model of the high-definition scanners, we need to train officers on how to use them.

“After training officers on how to use them, we have to synchronise the scanners with our own system, and after we synchronise, do what we call UET, we test-run it before we deploy it to the port and start operations.

“It is after the image has been synchronised that selectivity would now be triggered to confirm if the container is suspect or not. The synchronisation would also reveal any kind of concealment that is inside the container.

“As of now, we have done about 70percent of these procedures, we are now on the final procedures. Rail construction is almost completed inside the port, the evacuation of containers at the scanning site would soon be taking place, maybe from this weekend.

“I assure you that before the end of next month, the scanners will be deployed and start working immediately.

“The deployment of the scanners will not only increase revenue but will also beef up the security of cargoes at the port.”