Customs Unveils Digital Declaration System to Fast-Track Airport Clearance
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a new digital platform, the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS), aimed at reducing delays, improving compliance and enhancing efficiency in passenger clearance at Nigeria’s international airports.
The system was officially unveiled on Monday, 18 May 2026, at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to the Service, SCADS is designed to streamline baggage declaration for inbound international passengers by enabling advance submission of declarations before arrival, thereby reducing manual processing and clearance bottlenecks.
The platform is also expected to improve transparency in revenue assessment and strengthen operational integrity across border control points.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said the initiative reflects the agency’s ongoing digital transformation agenda under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Adebakin explained that the system was developed in response to operational challenges experienced with the previous passenger declaration platform, which necessitated a more robust and efficient replacement.
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She noted that SCADS allows travellers to declare items in advance, resulting in faster clearance times and improved compliance with Customs regulations.
According to her, the system will also enhance revenue administration by ensuring that duties are automatically calculated based on declared items, quantities and actual values, thereby reducing subjective assessment.
“When we talk about revenue collection, it is not about collecting more or less. It is about collecting the right revenue. With this system, assessment will now be more objective, accurate and driven by data,” she said.
She commended officers of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Unit, technical partners and deployment teams for their roles in achieving the pilot rollout.
The Customs Area Controller of the FCT Area Command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, said the selection of the command for the pilot phase reflected confidence in its operational capacity.
She stated that SCADS integrates passenger baggage and e-commerce declarations into a unified digital framework aligned with international Customs standards.
According to her, the pilot phase will run for five days, from 18 to 22 May 2026, during which the system will be tested in a live operational environment ahead of nationwide deployment.
The launch event was attended by senior Customs officials, representatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, partner government agencies, technical experts and other stakeholders in the aviation and border management sector.
By PRNigeria
