Shippers’ Council Launches System to Combat Smuggling

On Feb 20, 2025

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has stated that its newly introduced International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) will play a vital role in combating drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and other illicit activities that contribute to insecurity in the country.

The Executive Secretary of the council, Dr Pious Akutah, made this known in a statement released by the Head of Public Relations, Mrs Rebecca Adamu, in Lagos on Wednesday.

The ICTN is an initiative by the NSC designed to enhance the traceability of goods across international borders, ensuring better security and compliance in cargo shipments.

It assigns a unique identification number to each shipment and, therefore, is a tool to enhance trade globally.

Akutah said that the council decried the recent upsurge in arms and drug importation and called for total support by all.

He said that the awareness became necessary to inform stakeholders that the new ICTN was not to stifle trade but to support the federal government’s economic and security agenda.

The council boss stated that the additional regulatory mechanism works in synergy with customs systems to enhance compliance, risk assessment and trade efficiency.

He stated that embracing the full implementation of the ICTN remained crucial for the benefit of the economy, Nigerians, and, most importantly, to drive growth in the marine and blue economy.

Akutah said, “This leads to faster clearance time, reduces congestion at ports and lowers 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 trade regulation.

“It is imperative to state that Nigeria’s adoption of ICTN aligns with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and international maritime security standards.”