Adeniyi unveils customs digital gains, showcases B’Odogwu at UNILORIN conference

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has highlighted the Nigeria Customs Service’s digital transformation drive while advocating a human-focused approach to innovation and artificial intelligence at an international conference hosted by the University of Ilorin.

Adeniyi made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the 4th Biennial International Conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology, RUDN University, Russia.

The conference, themed “Disruptive Technology: Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy,” brought together academics, researchers, technology experts, communication scholars, policymakers, and heads of government agencies to examine the growing impact of emerging technologies on governance, trade, education, and economic development.

Speaking at the event, the Customs boss stressed that digital transformation must remain people-centred, noting that innovation should strengthen governance systems, improve efficiency, and deepen public trust rather than weaken accountability.

According to him, while artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies are reshaping institutions globally, their effectiveness depends largely on human leadership, ethics, and institutional competence.

“The digital age is ultimately a human story. The real challenge is not how powerful our technologies become, but how wisely institutions and societies choose to deploy them,” Adeniyi said.

Drawing from the Nigeria Customs Service’s modernisation agenda, Adeniyi showcased the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, describing it as a major milestone in the agency’s ongoing digital reform programme.

He explained that the platform has improved cargo processing, trade facilitation, and inter-agency coordination while strengthening transparency and operational efficiency across customs processes.

According to him, the platform generated over ₦230 billion at the PTML Command within its first eight months of deployment.

He also disclosed that compliant traders using the system now experience cargo clearance timelines of less than eight hours, significantly improving ease of doing business and reducing operational bottlenecks.

Adeniyi noted that the B’Odogwu platform demonstrates how technology can be deployed not merely as an automation tool but as a strategic governance instrument capable of improving service delivery and revenue collection.

“The real value lies not in rivalry between humans and artificial intelligence, but in partnership. Technology delivers better outcomes when guided by clear purpose, ethical standards, and competent leadership,” he stated.

The Comptroller-General further emphasised that although artificial intelligence can enhance decision-making, risk management, and compliance systems, human expertise remains critical to enforcement and institutional leadership.

He called for stronger collaboration between universities, research institutions, and public agencies to develop locally relevant solutions to digital governance and economic challenges.

According to him, African countries must avoid simply importing foreign digital governance models and instead develop frameworks aligned with local realities, legal systems, and development priorities.

He identified several areas where academia can support Customs modernisation efforts, including artificial intelligence-driven risk targeting, digital compliance systems, public trust communication, and governance of cross-border data flows.

Adeniyi also engaged with scholars, traditional rulers, communication professionals, and heads of government agencies on the sidelines of the conference to explore partnerships in research, innovation, capacity development, and community advancement.