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Nigerian Shippers’ Council demystifies ICTN concept.

– says its application will enhance trade facilitation in Nigerian ports 
Funso OLOJO
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council has explained the concept of International Cargo Tracking Note( ICTN) which it said its meant to enhance efficiency and transparency in global supply chain.
In its response to the critics of the electronic system, the management of the council stated that ICTN is designed to ensure the traceability of goods across international borders by assigning a unique identification number to each shipment.
” It is therefore a tool to enhance trade globally.
“The concept of International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) emerged from the need for greater efficiency and transparency in the global supply chain, particularly as trade and commerce expanded, given that 85 percent of global trade is through the seas.
“This mechanism enhances visibility and accountability in the shipping process,reducing opportunities for fraud,smuggling,and theft,particularly in monitoring daily crude oil exports,importation of illicit drugs and arms into the country amongst other infractions”
“ICTN facilitates Customs clearance procedure by providing real-time updates that alert authorities to any discrepancies in cargo movement”
The NSC traces the emergence of the electronic concept to the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration in 2010 when it was first introduced.
“The intention was to combat illicit imports. But was later abandoned due to fraud allegations and stakeholders’ resistance/disagreements.
“But in 2019, the Federal Government, citing the surge in illicit trade importation and the need to align with global standards, mandated Nigerian Shippers Council as the Port Economic Regulator to fine tune grey areas and commence the project”
The Council therefore said the introduction of the new ICTN will bolster Nigeria’s security,enhance the Federal Government’s revenue from seaports,and align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which essentially is targeted towards the diversification of the economy.
The Executive Secretary of the NSC,Pius Akutah also  revealed that ICTN provides accurate and timely cargo information,enabling Customs officials to perform more effective inspections, clear goods faster, thereby reducing delays which will further boost the country’s global rating in the maritime sector.
Benefits of ICTN: Globally, ICTN enhances cargo security while contributing to trade transparency.
As a technology, it provides real-time cargo data, reducing smuggling, cargo under-declaration and trade fraud.
 It equally strengthens the country’s supply chain security by ensuring cargo visibility from the port of loading to the port of destination.
ICTN helps in efficient Customs clearance as the system enables pre-arrival processing,allowing Regulatory agencies, including Nigerian Customs ,to assess risks before cargo arrival.
This leads to faster clearance time,reduced congestion at ports and lower demurrage costs for traders.
ICTN ensures  accurate cargo valuation,preventing revenue loss due to false declarations while blocking financial leakage caused by incorrect customs duties, levies and tariffs.
Furthermore,many countries of the world, including advanced economies, have successfully deployed ICTN for effective cargo monitoring and for trade regulation.
It is imperative to state that Nigeria’s adoption of ICTN aligns with the World Trade Organization (WTO), Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and international maritime security standards.
Legal backing of ICTN: The NSC, in  response to the narratives in some quarter, especially the Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (CMDLCA), which claimed the introduction of the electronic concept lacks legal backing, declared in the affirmative.
“If we do a retrospection, especially on the mandate and role of Nigerian Shippers Council as Port Economic Regulator, it becomes apparent that as a regulator, the Council is empowered to introduce mechanisms that enhance trade facilitation.
“To put it mildly, ICTN is not a duplication of existing processes but a complementary tool that aligns with Nigeria’s Customs and Port Regulatory network.
 “The technology widely used in other climes streamlines cargo inspection and clearance through automated pre-arrival information.
“It is therefore important to state here that ICTN is an additional regulatory mechanism,which works in synergy with customs systems to enhance compliance, risk assessment, and trade efficiency.
“Finally, it has become propitious to inform the “doubting Thomases” in the industry that the new ICTN is not to stifle trade but to support the Federal Government economic and security agenda.
“The recent upsurge in arms and drug importation calls for total support by all  and sundry.
“The key benefit of ICTN is to protect Nigerians from drug trafficking,arms smuggling and other contrabands that aid insecurity.
“It is for the interest and benefit of the economy, to Nigerians and most importantly to industry stakeholders to embrace the ICTN implementation  maximally so as to grow our Marine and Blue Economy.
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Analyses

The invisible toll gates:Why National Single Window is Nigeria’s ultimate economic battleground

Monday Discourse with  Ibrahim Nasiru
Walk into any market in Nigeria today, from the commercial hubs of Lagos to the roadside stalls in Yola, and ask why a bag of rice or an imported spare part costs three times what it did last year.
The typical public commentator will blame global inflation, floating currencies, or macro-economic shocks.
But those who understand logistics know the real truth lies buried under layers of paper, manual stamps, and artificial delays at our seaports.
Nigeria’s international trade is suffocating not from a lack of deep water, but from a deliberate design of convenience.
The recent operational rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) has triggered behind-the-scenes panic among Port cartels, and for good reason.
For decades, keeping our clearing processes fragmented, manual, and dependent on desk-to-desk human interaction was the perfect business model for syndicates.
When cargo dwell times drag on for 21 days, those delays are money in the pockets of the gatekeepers and a death sentence for local businesses.
Let us look at the raw field realities. The push by the Nigeria Customs Service to aggressively crash clearance times down to global 48-hour standards is meeting fierce internal resistance.
Why? Because a unified digital ecosystem means you cannot easily manipulate documentation, hide illicit cargo, or demand “mobilization fees” before signing off a container.
The outcry and protests from certain freight-forwarding syndicates aren’t about technical glitches; they are about the sudden closure of invisible toll gates.
This is exactly why governance at our national gateways can no longer be left to the mercy of transactional bureaucratic habits.
Building deep-sea infrastructure like Lekki Port is a massive physical achievement, but concrete and cranes are useless if the administrative processes at the gate remain backward.
 Real structural reform requires turning our Ports into automated, friction-free pipelines that prioritize production over rent-seeking.
If Nigeria wants to survive this fiscal squeeze, the National Single Window cannot just be treated as another glossy IT project launched in Abuja.
 It requires unyielding administrative enforcement to completely dismantle the corrupt cartels managing the manual desk chains.
The invisible toll gates at our Ports must be completely demolished, and that exact same structural discipline must be scaled across our border stations and trade corridors.
The era of managing international trade with 20th-century paper trails is dying. The future belongs to the builders of automated, transparent systems.
Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst,  writes from Abuja 
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Headlines

NANTA Exco embarks on seven-day Ghana retreat, fam trip to deepen regional tourism partnership

Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has commenced a seven-day executive retreat and familiarisation (fam) trip to Ghana, hosted by Safari World, as part of efforts to strengthen regional tourism partnerships and expand cross-border travel opportunities.

The NANTA delegation was received at Safari World Homes in Accra by the Chairman of the Safari World Group, Mr. Ernest Gyekye, who expressed delight at hosting the Nigerian travel trade leaders.

He assured the delegation of a memorable experience throughout their week-long stay.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, NANTA President, Mr. Yinka Folami, described the retreat and familiarisation tour as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering stronger business relationships and promoting collaborative tourism development across Africa.

“This mission is not a leisure trip,” Folami said. “It is a deliberate step to implement and expand our association’s marketing advocacy for Nigerian brands across borders.”

He noted that Nigeria and Ghana share deep historical, cultural and commercial ties that should be leveraged to drive tourism growth on the continent.

“Nigeria and Ghana share history, culture, trade and people. The future of our tourism cannot be built in silos,” he said.

“This retreat is about moving from policy to practice—creating real products, real partnerships and real movement of travellers between Accra and Lagos.”

As part of the programme, the NANTA executives will engage in strategic business-to-business (B2B) meetings with their Ghanaian counterparts, tour key tourism destinations under the Safari World brand, and participate in cultural exchange activities designed to promote stronger bilateral tourism cooperation.

The itinerary spans Safari World’s three flagship destinations, including Safari Homes in Accra, the Aqua Safari riverfront experience, Safari Island Cruise, Safari Nautica, and Safari Recreation and Sports facilities in Ada, as well as the Safari Valley Eco Resort and Safari Eco Park in Dawu.

Operating under the brand promise, “One World, Three Destinations, Over 20 Unique Experiences,” Safari World is leveraging the visit to strengthen its footprint in the Nigerian travel market while positioning Ghana as a premier destination for leisure tourism, conferences, group travel, family holidays and premium tourism experiences.

A major highlight of the visit will be the Executive Dinner scheduled for July 21 at the Safari Valley Eco Resort, where key stakeholders from Nigeria and Ghana’s tourism industries will deliberate on strategies for deepening travel trade and advancing regional tourism development.

The familiarisation tour is expected to provide NANTA’s leadership with first-hand knowledge of Safari World’s tourism offerings, paving the way for the development of attractive travel packages and stronger business partnerships that will benefit Nigerian travellers and the wider West African tourism industry.

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Customs

Ogun Customs spurns claims of Smugglers’ takeover of Idiroko–Sango Ota trading Route

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false reports alleging that smugglers had taken over the Idiroko–Sango Ota trading route in Ogun State, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of a traffic incident.
In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs (SC) Chado, the Command clarified that the traffic gridlock on the route resulted from the breakdown of an articulated commercial trailer after it fell into a badly deteriorated section of Atan Road, temporarily obstructing the free flow of traffic.
According to the Command, the vehicles caught in the ensuing congestion were legitimate commercial trucks transporting red palm oil to various local markets and had no connection whatsoever with smuggling activities.
It explained that the large number of heavy-duty trucks trapped in the gridlock may have led some members of the public to wrongly conclude that smugglers had taken over the road.
“The reports that smugglers blocked the road are inaccurate. The disruption resulted from a road accident and poor road conditions. The vehicles involved were lawful commercial vehicles transporting red palm oil for legitimate trade,” Chado stated.
The Command urged journalists, social media users and the general public to verify information before disseminating reports capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public confidence in security agencies.
Observers within the border trade sector noted that the allegation does not reflect the prevailing security situation within the Ogun I Area Command, where anti-smuggling operations have been intensified under the leadership of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Comptroller O.O. Afeni.
Since assuming office, Comptroller Afeni has strengthened intelligence-driven surveillance, enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and host communities, and sustained pressure on economic saboteurs operating along the Ogun border corridors.
These measures, according to stakeholders, have resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods and reinforced the Command’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and territorial integrity.
Maritime and border trade stakeholders also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of undermining the efforts of security personnel or creating a false impression of lawlessness in border communities.
They stressed that while combating smuggling remains an ongoing responsibility, responsible and accurate reporting is equally critical to ensuring that operational achievements are not overshadowed by misinformation.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its anti-smuggling campaign while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade in line with the statutory mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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