The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS) at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as part of efforts to improve passenger clearance and customs operations.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada.
According to the service, the digital platform is designed to simplify baggage declaration for inbound international passengers, reduce manual bottlenecks, improve transparency in revenue assessment, and enhance operational efficiency across Nigeria’s international airports.
What they are saying
Speaking at the inauguration, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, described SCADS as another milestone in the service’s digital transformation drive.
She explained that the initiative followed operational challenges encountered with the previous passenger declaration platform introduced earlier in the year.
- “When the earlier platform experienced operational challenges, we chose not to see it as a setback. We saw it as an opportunity to build something better, stronger and more efficient,” Adebakin said.
She stated that the new platform would allow passengers to declare items before arrival, leading to faster clearance, easier compliance, and smoother movement through airports.
- “For passengers, this system creates the opportunity for advance declaration before arrival. It means faster clearance, easier compliance and smoother movement through our airports,” she added.
Adebakin also noted that the platform would eliminate subjective revenue assessments by automatically generating duties based on declared goods, quantities, and actual values.
She further stressed that the system would improve transparency and ensure that customs duties are assessed accurately using data-driven processes.
More insights
Also speaking, the Customs Area Controller of the FCT Area Command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, described the selection of Abuja for the pilot phase as a strong endorsement of the command’s operational capabilities.
She noted that SCADS integrates passenger baggage declarations and e-commerce declarations into a single digital framework aligned with international customs standards.
- “SCADS is designed to simplify declarations, reduce clearance time, eliminate manual bottlenecks and align our operations with international standards,” Alibo said.
She explained that the pilot phase would run from May 18 to May 22 to allow officers assess the system in a live environment before nationwide deployment.
The exercise will involve Customs officers, technical teams, airport authorities, and other government agencies operating within the aviation sector.
The launch event was attended by senior Customs officials, representatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), partner agencies, and other stakeholders within Nigeria’s aviation and border management ecosystem.
What you should know
Earlier this year, the Nigeria Customs Service reported a major revenue increase under its Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme.
- Revenue collections under the programme rose from N1.222 trillion before certification to N1.585 trillion after certification.
- The increase of N362.79 billion represented a 29.68% growth across 51 AEO-certified entities as of October 27, 2025.
- The service said the programme contributed 21.77% to its total revenue collection of N7.281 trillion in 2025, while customs duties paid increased by 85.66% due to improved compliance and higher trade volumes.
The AEO programme, backed by the World Customs Organization, is a voluntary certification scheme that promotes supply chain security while granting benefits such as faster cargo clearance and fewer inspections for accredited operators.
