Togo has launched a pilot programme to electronically track vehicles carrying petroleum products in transit to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, expanding its system for monitoring goods moving through the country.
The pilot, spearheaded by the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR), is aimed at strengthening oversight and improving the traceability of transit cargo, according to Togo First.
The measure is part of the Electronic System for the Monitoring and Security of Goods in Transit (SESS), which has been operational since October 2022.
For the pilot, the OTR acquired tracking devices specifically designed for vehicles transporting petroleum products. The devices are attached to trucks after key shipment and journey details have been recorded, including the planned route, type of cargo, vehicle specifications and driver information.
“A tracking device is then attached to the vehicle. The process is validated after checking that the truck is connected to the system and that the data is being transmitted properly,” said Abdou-Waliyou Kambara, an information systems engineer responsible for SESS.
Once a truck is on the road, its route is monitored from the OTR’s command centre, which operates around the clock. Officers can detect deviations from the planned route and other unusual activity.
The system is intended to improve cargo security and maintain traceability throughout the journey, which is particularly important for petroleum products because of their sensitive nature and tax value.
The pilot phase will test the system under real-world conditions, with industry stakeholders expected to participate in an assessment before any broader rollout
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