Customs Unveils Digital Modernisation Milestones at WCO Event
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has showcased its digital transformation milestones, including the deployment of its B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Smart Customs Project Global Event 2026 in Brussels, Belgium.
The Service also highlighted its growing use of data-driven operations, geospatial technology and artificial intelligence as part of efforts to build a more efficient, technology-driven Customs administration.
The event, held at the WCO headquarters from October 29 to 30, brought together Customs administrations, technology experts and international stakeholders to examine how emerging technologies can improve border management, strengthen enforcement and facilitate legitimate international trade.
The NCS was represented by Assistant Comptroller Omolara Adedeji, who presented Nigeria’s experience in transitioning from traditional, manual Customs procedures to integrated digital operations.
In her presentation, titled “Nigeria Customs Service: The Journey Towards Smart Customs,” Adedeji outlined the Service’s modernisation programme, highlighting the development and deployment of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), as a major component of its digital transformation.
She said the system supports greater automation, electronic processing, data-driven decision-making and improved collaboration with government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as private-sector stakeholders.
“The NCS is undergoing a deliberate transition from traditional Customs operations towards integrated digital operations,” she said, adding that the modernisation programme was strengthening automation and electronic processing to improve efficiency and responsiveness.
Adedeji identified smart technology and smart data as the two pillars of Nigeria’s Smart Customs vision.
According to her, smart technology encompasses automation, integrated systems, digital platforms and modern information and communications technology infrastructure, while smart data focuses on intelligence-led interventions, risk management, analytics and improved information sharing.
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She also highlighted the use of geospatial technology in fleet and asset management, as well as the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), which helps improve cargo visibility and operational monitoring.
The presentation indicated that the Service’s digital transformation was moving beyond basic process automation towards more intelligent Customs operations, with priorities including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, predictive analytics, non-intrusive inspection, integrated border management and real-time operational intelligence.
“By prioritising these technologies and investing in the people who will drive their application, we are working towards a system that anticipates risks, supports real-time operational intelligence and facilitates seamless trade,” she said.
The NCS also emphasised the importance of developing personnel with the technical skills needed to sustain its modernisation programme and support the adoption of emerging technologies.
A major highlight of the global event was the launch and presentation of the updated WCO Study Report on Disruptive Technologies, which examined developments in technology and their implications for Customs administrations.
Nigeria featured among the Customs administrations that contributed case studies to the report, alongside the General Administration of Customs of China and the Mauritius Revenue Authority.
The event’s opening ceremony featured remarks by WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Treviño Chapa, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of China’s General Administration of Customs Xueyan Guo, and Chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee Eduard Hakobyan.
Other sessions examined deliverables under the WCO Smart Customs Project’s artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as blockchain, work packages. These included technical reports, readiness self-assessment tools and practical case studies.
A separate session focused on AI governance and deployment readiness in Customs, with experts and representatives from Cambodia, Mexico, Türkiye and Vietnam discussing institutional preparedness, governance frameworks and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
The NCS’s participation provided an opportunity to share Nigeria’s modernisation experience and engage with international counterparts on the use of technology to strengthen Customs operations, improve risk management and facilitate legitimate trade.
By PRNigeria
