Nigeria Customs to deploy cargo scanners at Abuja airport for faster inspections
Nigeria Customs Service will launch cargo scanners at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to streamline cargo inspections - the project awaits final regulatory approval. CX180 180DH pallet scanners have been installed at SAHCO and NAHCO warehouses within the airport.
Customs officers completed specialized image analysis training last month to operate the new technology. Deputy Comptroller Umar Madugu confirmed the scanners will replace physical examinations, reducing inspection times while improving detection of prohibited and undeclared goods. He recommended security upgrades including traffic assessment officers and CCTV cameras for seamless operations.
The deployment advances Customs' modernization drive to improve trade facilitation and border security. NCS generated N7.281 trillion in 2025 revenue and N3.35 trillion from January to May 2026. Officers processed nearly 700,000 import declarations and facilitated $1.218 billion in exports through 21,376 containers in early 2026.
Nigeria's air freight logistics market is worth over $8 billion, with Abuja among four major cargo hubs alongside Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano. Aramex Nigeria's MD previously identified airport cargo processing as the sector's biggest operational bottleneck due to multiple clearance procedures and limited technology integration.
With reduced inspection times and improved efficiency, how will this modernization impact your import or export business costs and delivery timelines?