Shipping stakeholders who converged at the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Roundtable on Thursday to deliberate on the reintroduction of the controversial International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) failed to agree on the benefits and need to implement the trade tool promoted as the solution to the myriads of trade malpractices and insecurity challenge.
The shipping and trade industries regulators at the round table also failed to convinced the private sector operators on which agency is best fit to implement the ICTN.
However, the Nigeria Customs Service at the forum allayed fears of the ICTN leading to more cost, citing that the benefits would absorb its associated cost in terms of reduced cargo dwell time at the port leading to demurrage charges.
While some are in support of the implementation plan by the government, others are of the opinion that the scheme should be handled differently.
They named the benefits of the implementation of the scheme to include comprehensive monitoring of all shipments into the country to curb importation of harmful substances, increased revenue collection, improvement of the nation’s maritime trade amongst others.
However, those against the planned government implementation reasoned that there is no law backing it and therefore it should not commence. They also argued that the plan is not backed by any law, stressing that implementation will paint the government as being lawless as well as the scheme resulting in higher clearing cost implications on shippers.
Speaking at the event, The Coordinator of Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Charles Orbih, who represented the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, assured stakeholders that the costs associated with the ICTN would be offsetted by savings resulting from reduced delays, demurrage charges, and more efficient operations.
In the paper titled: “Proposed Cargo Tracking Note:A Second Look by Critical Stakeholders”, the Customs boss while addressing the issue of enabling law said that Section 28 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 explicitly empowers the Service to develop and maintain electronic systems for cargo tracking.
“This legal framework ensures proper authority for implementation while protecting stakeholder interests.
“The Nigeria Customs Service envisions a measured, phased implementation
approach. Throughout this process, we will maintain open dialogue with stakeholders, incorporating feedback and making necessary adjustments to ensure the system serves its intended purpose without creating undue burden,” he assured. He cited international evidence from countries where similar schemes are in operation to support this claim.
Adeniyi disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service is actively working with stakeholders to establish a fee structure that balances system sustainability with business competitiveness.
Addressing concerns about bureaucracy and procedural complications, Adeniyi noted that the implementation strategy directly addresses these through system integration and process automation.
He emphasized that instead of creating additional procedures, ICTN will streamline existing ones by providing a single platform for information submission and verification.
He noted that the focus should not just be on adopting new technology, but on fundamentally improving the way maritime trade is conducted in Nigeria.
The CGC emphasized that the successful implementation of this initiative will make Nigerian ports more efficient, transparent, and competitive, thereby strengthening their role as gateways for international trade.
He said the Service is *ready to collaborate with stakeholders for the implementors to ensure that the International Cargo Tracking Note serves the national interest while simultaneously facilitating international trade.
“This initiative, re-introduced by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, offers concrete solutions to long-standing challenges in our ports.
“The benefits of International Cargo Tracking Note implementation are substantial and far-reaching. The system significantly enhances security and risk management by providing information in advance about cargo, enabling better threat assessment and targeted inspections. “This enhanced security framework has proven effective in reducing cargo loss and theft in countries that have implemented the system.
“Furthermore, ICTN’s integration with existing systems will create a seamless information flow between customs, and other stakeholders. This integration enables real-time cargo tracking, faster manifest verification, and automated risk assessment. These improvements directly translate to reduced dwell time, lower demurrage charges, and more predictable cargo delivery schedules for businesses.”
He averred that evidence from other African nations supports these benefits, citing Nigeria’s next door neighbour, Ghana, as a prime example.
He thanked MARAN for organizing the important roundtable discussion, praising the association for its commitment to promoting informed dialogue within the Nigerian maritime industry.
Also speaking at the event, Pius Akutah, Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), noted that the ICTN initiative was launched many years ago.
The NSC boss who was represented by the Director Consumer Affairs, Celestine Akujobi, said that Africa Shippers Councils were advised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to monitor cargo movement. Based on that some African countries have since started the implementation.
He explained that ICTN is a cargo facilitation program involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Customs Service. He emphasized that the NSC aims to minimize costs associated with ICTN, as it’s not intended to generate revenue.
Akujobi argued that ICTN concept is a security issue and that whether NSC or Customs is in charge is immaterial, saying that what’s important is its implementation as done in other climes.
He mentioned that Benin Republic implemented a similar system in 2006 and that Nigeria successfully implemented it earlier but it was later suspended. He expressed the NSC’s willingness to reintroduce the system and explore its benefits for all stakeholders.
Similarly, the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NDLCA, Lucky Eyis Amiwero, has disputed claims that the ICTN is a UNCTAD-backed initiative, arguing that it lacks formal convention or rule status and its implementation in Nigeria is not tied to any service.
Lucky Amiwero emphasized that the NSC was established to safeguard shippers’ interests, and lacks the legal authority to implement the ICTN.
In his words, “You cannot operate a system without a law,” he stated.
He explained that ICTN originated with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and that its first three implementations were not tied to any specific service. He maintained that the implementation of ICTN in Benin Republic was tied to their Customs service, highlighting that ICTN is already integrated into Customs operations and that assigning it to another agency would be redundant.
His words: “ICTN is not backed by law. It’s just to make money for a few people. It’s already subsumed in Customs law. It’s going to obstruct clearance of goods. It’s not backed by law and not tied to any service.”
In his own presentation, Dr. Eugene Nweke of Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC), said that research revealed that 32 countries in Africa are implementing ICTN, adding that there’s the need for it implementation in Nigeria for checks and balances.
Nweke argued that ICTN would enhance compliance and ensure the safety and security of the nation.
In his contribution, the Chairman of Widescope International Logistics, Dr. Segun Musa, described ICTN as an intellectual fraud that would not fly.
He asserted that ICTN faced resistance in the aviation industry when he wrote International Air Transport Association, IATA, which subsequently wrote to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, leading to its cancellation.
Musa insisted that ICTN is unnecessary, as Customs already requests advance manifests, which expose concealment, and 100 per cent examination can uncover any hidden goods.
Musa argued that ICTN is fraudulent as it is a combination of pre-shipment clearance and destination clearance and that key industry players will not allow a selected group of businessmen to exploit government agencies and compromised stakeholders for personal gain.
Godfrey Bivbere, the President of MARAN, highlighted the importance of ICTN to Nigeria’s maritime sector and the national economy, expressing hope that the discussions will ultimately benefit Nigeria.
According to him, “Beyond the ability to collect and track cargo information, this system has the capacity to generate billions of naira in revenue for the Nigerian government, particularly in revenue areas currently being missed at our borders,” he said.
Bivbere believes ICTN has the potential to monitor daily crude oil exports, which is crucial for Nigeria as Africa’s largest oil producer. He hopes this will help curb the long-standing issue of oil theft in the country.
“Yet, despite its obvious benefits, the scheme has been put on hold multiple times. At one point, it only operated for less than two years before being suspended. Why? Because of corruption, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and internal battles for control among key stakeholders.
“In 2007, a proposal from the Ports Management System Company Limited (TPMS) and its partners was being reviewed for implementation. However, political changes led to further delays. By the time the Federal Executive Council approved the project in 2010, another setback came in 2011 when the scheme was halted by the Presidential Task Force on Port Reforms, citing various concerns.
“The controversies surrounding the ICTN are not without merit. Importers and clearing agents have raised concerns about duplications of charges. They have pointed out that their cargos are already being tracked by the Nigerian Customs Service from origin to destination, and therefore, adding a second layer of tracking via the ICTN creates unnecessary costs. These complaints are valid and need to be addressed if we are to move forward with this initiative.
“As we move to reintroduce the ICTN, it is critical that we approach it with a fresh perspective and an understanding of the lessons learned from the past.
“The time has come to resolve the controversies and come to a consensus. MARAN, recognizes the importance of fostering dialogue and understanding among all parties involved,” he said.
