Customs Deploys AI Scanners, Trains 5,000 Officers to Combat Illicit Trade
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun deploying artificial intelligence-powered scanners and forensic tools at key border points to combat illicit trade and smuggling activities, Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at the “4th World Customs Organization (WCO) Donors Conference for the West and Central Africa Region” in Abuja, Adeniyi said over 5,000 officers have been trained in recent months to strengthen enforcement capacity and modernize customs operations nationwide.
Themed, “Partners Mobilization Around Priority Projects in the WCO-WCA Region: A Genuine Pledge to Meet the Modernization Goals and Performance Targets of Member Customs Administrations,” the conference brought stakeholders together to align support and investments toward customs modernization and regional integration.
According to the CG, the new technology-driven approach is part of a wider modernization strategy aimed at aligning the agency with global best practices, improving trade facilitation, and supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
“We have started pilot implementation of several key initiatives, including AI-powered scanners and forensic tools to detect illicit trade. Our officers have also undergone intensive training in technical areas tailored for regional use,” he said.
He added that the Nigeria Customs will serve as a regional hub for capacity building, leveraging its WCO-recognized training center in Abuja to host programs for officers across West and Central Africa.
The CG stressed the need for donor coordination, stating that all donor-funded programs within the NCS will now be centrally managed to avoid duplication and ensure effective delivery.
Adeniyi also highlighted progress in developing a competency-based human resource management system, support structures for AfCFTA rule enforcement, and the push towards regional single window integration.
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Ian Sanders, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), who spoke through his representative, Mr. Ebenezer Tafili, explained that the primary objectives of the conference are to strengthen the network and dialogue between the WCO customs administrations and development partners, and to raise awareness within the region’s customs administrations of the priority initiatives and approaches of development partners operating in the region.
He added that the conference also aims to coordinate the development of regional and national project initiatives and mobilize funding for their implementation.
In his address, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, emphasized the enormous economic potential of the West and Central Africa region.
He highlighted the dismal intra-regional trade volume—currently at just 12%—as a reflection of fragmented customs systems, logistical inefficiencies, and the high cost of doing business.
With a population of over 450 million and a combined GDP exceeding $900 billion, Edun asserted that modernizing and harmonizing customs procedures could unlock an additional $50 billion annually in regional trade and significantly reduce poverty.
This, he noted, would not only create millions of jobs but also foster deeper economic integration and resilience. Edun commended the Nigeria Customs for its historic performance in revenue generation—growing by 90% in one year and exceeding government targets by 20%.
He attributed this success to reforms inspired by World Customs Organization (WCO) frameworks, including the implementation of Advanced Ruling systems and the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) scheme.
These reforms, he said, have simultaneously enhanced revenue collection and streamlined trade processes.
He urged all customs administrations and development partners to uphold transparency and commitment, ensuring that every investment in customs modernization delivers measurable impact for the region.
The conference, hosted at the Muhammadu Buhari Conference Hall of the National Intelligence Agency, brought together customs leaders, development partners, and technical experts to discuss strategic donor support for customs modernization across the region.
