Customs Launches Digital Declaration System to Cut Airport Delays

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has launched a new digital platform aimed at reducing passenger delays, improving baggage clearance, and enhancing transparency at the nation’s international airports.

The platform, known as the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System, was officially unveiled on Monday at the International Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, described the initiative as a major step in the Service’s digital transformation drive under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

Adebakin said the new system was developed after operational challenges affected the Service’s previous passenger declaration platform earlierthis year.

According to her, the platform allows inbound international passengers to declare baggage items before arriving in Nigeria, a process expected to reduce clearance time, improve compliance, and ease passenger movement through airports.

She added that the system would also eliminate subjective revenue assessment by automatically calculating duties based on the quantity and actual value of declared items.

The Customs Service explained that the platform integrates passenger baggage and e-commerce declarations into a unified digital framework aligned with international customs standards.

Earlier, the Customs Area Controller of the FCT Area Command, Victoria Alibo, said the selection of the Abuja command for the pilot phase reflected confidence in its operational capacity.

She disclosed that the pilot rollout would run fromMay 18 to May 22 to allow officers evaluate the platform in a live operational environment before nationwide deployment.

The launch ceremony was attended by senior Customs officers, officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, partner government agencies, and other stakeholders in the aviation and border management sector.