Dare Babalola
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a new digital passenger clearance system, the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS), at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to a statement posted on the agency’s X page on Tuesday, the launch, which occurred on Monday, was in a bid to improve border processing, enhance compliance and reduce delays at entry points.
The platform is designed to allow inbound international passengers to declare their baggage electronically before arrival, with the aim of easing congestion, cutting down manual procedures and strengthening transparency in Customs operations.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said the initiative forms part of the Service’s broader digital transformation agenda under Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi.
She explained that the system was developed following operational challenges experienced with a previous passenger declaration platform, adding that the Service opted to turn the setback into an opportunity for improvement.
According to her, SCADS will enable passengers to complete declarations ahead of arrival, thereby speeding up clearance processes and improving compliance at airports.
Adebakin further noted that the platform introduces a more data-driven approach to duty assessment, reducing subjectivity and ensuring that revenue collection is based strictly on declared items and their accurate valuation.
She described the reform as a shift toward “more objective and transparent assessment,” stressing that the focus is on accuracy rather than the volume of revenue collected.
The Customs official also commended technical teams, including officers of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Unit, for their role in the development and pilot deployment of the system.
Earlier, the Customs Area Controller of the FCT Command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, said the selection of the command for the pilot phase reflected confidence in its operational readiness.
She said SCADS integrates passenger baggage and e-commerce declarations into a single digital framework aligned with international customs standards, noting that it is expected to eliminate bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
Alibo disclosed that the pilot phase will run for five days, from Monday, 18 May to Friday, 22 May 2026, during which performance will be assessed before a nationwide rollout.
The launch event was attended by senior Customs officers, representatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, other partner agencies, and stakeholders within the aviation and border management sector.
