Customs Launches Electronic Cargo Tracking System to Accelerate Trade at PTML
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the pilot phase of its Management Information System (MIS) and Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) at the PTML Area Command in Lagos, as part of ongoing efforts to modernise customs operations, enhance trade facilitation and improve service delivery.
The pilot programme, launched on July 21, 2026, was led by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Speaking at the event, Adebakin described the initiative as another milestone in the Service’s digital transformation agenda, stressing that modernisation and digitalisation are essential for effective border management and alignment with global best practices.
She commended the PTML Area Command for its high level of preparedness, attributing its readiness to the commitment and collaborative efforts of officers toward the successful implementation of the project.
“Modernisation and digitalisation are no longer optional. As the lead agency in border management, the Nigeria Customs Service cannot afford to lag. If we don’t move with the cloud, we will be left behind. This pilot phase reflects our commitment to building a modern Customs Service that meets global standards,” she said.
In his welcome address, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the PTML Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Nura Miko, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to balancing trade facilitation with revenue generation and national security.
He disclosed that the command, which currently clears cargo within two hours, is targeting a further reduction of the clearance time to one hour through the deployment of the new digital platforms and continuous operational improvements.
“At PTML, trade facilitation remains our priority. Having achieved a two-hour cargo clearance time, we are now working towards reducing it to one hour through the deployment of these digital platforms and continuous process improvements,” Miko said.
The event also featured a live demonstration of the MIS and ECTS by the NCS ICT Unit. The team explained that the applications were developed in-house, are highly scalable, and are designed to strengthen indigenous technology development within the Service.
Officials showcased several key modules of the Management Information System, including the Duty Roster, Internal Roster, File Tracker and Posting Management systems. They also revealed that officer onboarding, user training and the deployment of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System are already in progress under the pilot phase.
The deployment of the digital platforms is expected to improve cargo monitoring, streamline customs processes, enhance transparency and further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service’s drive towards efficient, technology-driven border management.
By TimesNG