The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has reaffirmed that Nigeria stands to save as much as N900 billion every year in revenue leakages if the Federal Government fully deploys the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN), a globally recognised maritime security and trade transparency tool. The organisation stressed that the ICTN—already in operation across several West and Central African countries—has become an indispensable requirement for Nigeria’s port reform agenda, particularly at a time when the government is seeking new non-oil revenue sources and greater efficiency in maritime operations.
This position was contained in a policy commentary titled “The Urgent Imperative of Implementing the ICTN in Nigeria,” authored by SEREC’s Head of Research, Dr. Eugene Nweke. According to him, ICTN is no longer an optional reform but a strategic necessity for Nigeria’s maritime development. Despite receiving Federal Executive Council approval in 2023, the system has not been activated, a delay that SEREC warns could worsen financial losses and undermine national security.
ICTN as a Transformational Port Tool
The International Cargo Tracking Note is designed to provide verified, pre-arrival information on all inbound cargo. Through the system, port and customs authorities receive complete shipment details before the vessel arrives, enabling them to conduct documentation checks, risk assessments, and revenue profiling in advance. Dr. Nweke noted that such pre-verification significantly reduces opportunities for cargo concealment, fraudulent declarations, transshipment manipulation, and falsified manifests—practices that have historically cost the nation hundreds of billions annually.
With the ICTN fully deployed, Nigeria could shorten cargo clearance timelines by as much as 25–35% and reduce trade malpractices by up to 40%, based on projections previously reported by the News Agency of Nigeria. Beyond enhancing efficiency, the system would strengthen Nigeria’s regional competitiveness, especially as neighbouring countries continue to improve their port operations through digital verification technologies.
Financial and Security Implications of Delayed Implementation
The commentary highlights that Nigeria’s continued delay places it at a disadvantage compared to Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Angola. These countries recorded customs revenue increases of 18–22% and a 30% drop in clearance delays within two years of implementing ICTN. They also reported a 40% reduction in false cargo declarations.
Dr. Nweke warned that without the ICTN, Nigeria’s maritime regulatory framework will remain reactive, relying on post-arrival intelligence rather than pre-arrival verification. This weakness allows significant room for under-declaration, smuggling, and revenue loss. He estimated that the delay has already put Nigeria at risk of losing between N800 billion and N1.2 trillion annually due to non-standardised declarations and transshipment concealment.
Risk to Other Maritime Reforms
SEREC also cautioned that ongoing national reforms may become fragmented if ICTN is not integrated as the central data-verification layer. Nigeria is currently pursuing a National Single Window (NSW) system—scheduled for rollout in the first quarter of 2026—and an ambitious Customs modernisation programme. According to Nweke, both reforms depend on accurate data and early cargo verification; without ICTN, the systems will lack the foundational intelligence required for cohesive performance.
Need for Federal Coordination and Urgency
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) remains the lead implementing agency for ICTN, working alongside the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). However, SEREC noted that bureaucratic delays and competing institutional interests have hampered progress.
The organisation urged the government to recognise ICTN not as a rival system to existing digital platforms but as an essential enabler for security, revenue generation, and global compliance. The absence of an operational electronic cargo note has also affected investor confidence, leaving Nigeria as one of the few major trading nations in the region without such a system.
As global standards tighten and regional competition intensifies, SEREC’s report insists that Nigeria must accelerate the implementation of ICTN to safeguard revenue, improve port transparency, and secure its position within regional and international trade networks.
