Customs plan 100% cargo scanning at Onne Port

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to introduce 100% cargo scanning at the Onne Port in Rivers State, a move designed to significantly tighten security and intercept smuggled contraband. This intensified surveillance will specifically target dangerous items, including arms, ammunition, and pharmaceuticals, which have been illicitly entering the country through this vital maritime gateway.

Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer for the NCS, announced the plan during a news conference in Port Harcourt. He explained that all goods passing through Onne Port and other ports in the zone will undergo pre-scanning, with images sent to the NCS headquarters in Abuja for detailed analysis. This initiative mirrors the successful implementation of 100% scanning already underway at the Apapa Ports in Lagos State.

The decision to enhance scanning measures at Onne Port follows a "state of emergency" declared by the Comptroller General of the NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, in September 2024. This declaration came after a substantial cache of weapons and illicit drugs was confiscated at the port. An emergency protocol was implemented for three months to scrutinize all incoming cargo.

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We are putting more eyes, we are deploying more resources to make sure that illicit items do not find their way into the Port.

Maiwada clarified that the "state of emergency" does not halt business operations but designates Onne Port as a "place of special interest." He emphasized the deployment of increased resources and vigilance to prevent the entry of harmful items, stating, "We are putting more eyes, we are deploying more resources to make sure that illicit items do not find their way into the Port." The NCS aims to protect Nigerians from the detrimental effects of smuggled drugs and weapons.

In addition to enhanced scanning, the NCS is focusing on improving its non-intrusive inspection technology. The integration of scanning images is a key component of these new checks and balances. While importation and clearance operations continue, the heightened scrutiny at Onne Port signifies a robust commitment by the customs service to safeguard national security and public welfare.

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So, it does not mean that we have stopped importation. Then another aspect that we are working on is our non-intrusive inspection technology. That is scanning.