Customs deploys body cams to stem container diversions

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has begun deploying body cameras and electronic cargo tracking systems as part of measures to curb container diversion, strengthen border security and improve monitoring of cargo movement across the country. The National Public Relations Officer of the service, Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, spoke on Trust TV’s Business Daily programme […]

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has begun deploying body cameras and electronic cargo tracking systems as part of measures to curb container diversion, strengthen border security and improve monitoring of cargo movement across the country.
The National Public Relations Officer of the service, Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, spoke on Trust TV’s Business Daily programme on Tuesday.
He said the initiatives were part of the agency’s ongoing modernisation drive aimed at improving trade facilitation and tackling smuggling.
“Very soon we will start having body cams on our officers,” he said during the interview.
Maiwada explained that the service had also introduced electronic seals to track containers moving from ports to inland terminals in order to prevent diversion of goods in transit.
“We have also introduced electronic cargo tracking system, which is an e-seal that will track those containers that are leaving Apapa to a terminal in Kano or Kaduna to avoid diversion of those containers,” he added.
He said the customs service had already deployed scanners and integrated non-intrusive inspection systems into its operations to detect concealed and undeclared goods.
According to him, the agency recently acquired six scanners, including a fixed scanner and a gantry scanner already operational at the Apapa port.
“We have started integrating those non-intrusive inspections to our control centre in headquarters,” he noted.
Maiwada said the service’s homegrown Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, was also helping to automate cargo clearance and improve efficiency at the ports.
“It is a homegrown platform developed by the Nigeria Customs Service in collaboration with Trade Modernisation Project Limited,” he explained.
The customs spokesman blamed persistent delays in cargo clearance on widespread noncompliance by importers, including concealment, under declaration and smuggling.

 

“We are living in a very noncompliant environment,” he said.

 

He cited a recent case involving concealed aircraft tyres imported through a third party, noting that the goods, which could ordinarily have been cleared within hours, were delayed for weeks after customs detected infractions.

 

“It took them three, four, five weeks. So that is the consequence of non compliance,” he added.

 

Maiwada also said the service was strengthening collaboration with agencies such as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to improve border enforcement and prosecution of offenders.