Nigeria to Deploy 22 New Cargo Scanners by Q3 2026 to Boost Trade Modernisation
Nigeria’s trade modernisation drive is set to gain fresh momentum as the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Limited announced plans to deploy 22 additional cargo scanners across the country’s ports before the end of the third quarter of 2026. The move is expected to significantly improve cargo inspection efficiency, strengthen port security, and reduce delays in import and export processes.
TMP, the concessionaire implementing the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Modernisation Project, revealed that the scanners will build on earlier deployments aimed at cutting down physical cargo examinations. In 2025, the company rolled out six AI-enabled scanners at key seaports, marking a major step toward non-intrusive inspection and faster trade facilitation.
Speaking during a tour of TMP facilities at Lagos seaports and airports, Sulaiman Aliyu, Team Lead for Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII), explained that the scanners are designed to handle high volumes efficiently. According to him, FS6000 scanners can process up to 200 containers per hour, while mobile scanners can scan more than 120 containers per hour, making it extremely difficult for contraband to pass through ports undetected.
Aliyu added that the new scanners will be fully integrated with B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) launched in late 2024. This integration allows cargo to be scanned and cleared in real time, with only suspicious consignments subjected to physical checks. Two scanners are already operational at Apapa Port, while the remaining units are expected to arrive before Q3 2026.
Also commenting, Deputy Comptroller Miko Ibrahim, Revenue Officer at the Apapa Command of the NCS, said the deployment of advanced technology is transforming customs operations and public perception. He noted that digital tools introduced through TMP are accelerating reforms that would normally take decades, enabling a more transparent, contactless system where compliant traders can eventually clear cargo remotely from their homes.
source: leadership