Airport delays set to ease as customs deploys smart declaration platform

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a new digital platform aimed at reducing passenger delays, improving compliance and eliminating manual bottlenecks at Nigeria’s international airports.

The platform, known as the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS), was officially unveiled on Monday at the International Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport as part of the Service’s broader customs modernisation programme.

Designed for inbound international passengers, the system enables travellers to declare baggage and dutiable items before arriving in Nigeria, a move Customs says will significantly reduce clearance time and improve passenger experience.

Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said the rollout represents another milestone in the agency’s digital transformation agenda under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi.

Adebakin explained that SCADS was developed after operational challenges affected the Service’s earlier passenger declaration platform, prompting Customs to build a more efficient replacement.

“When the earlier platform experienced operational challenges, we chose not to treat it as a setback. Instead, we saw an opportunity to create something stronger, more efficient and more aligned with our long-term digital goals,” she said.

According to her, the platform allows passengers to complete declarations in advance, helping to simplify customs procedures and reduce congestion at airport arrival halls.

She noted that beyond improving passenger convenience, the system would also enhance revenue integrity by automating duty calculations based on declared goods, their quantity and actual value.

“Revenue collection is not simply about collecting more or less. It is about collecting the right revenue. This system ensures more objective, accurate and data-driven assessments,” Adebakin stated.

Earlier, Customs Area Controller of the FCT Area Command, Victoria Alibo, described the selection of the command for the pilot rollout as a reflection of confidence in its operational readiness.

She said SCADS integrates baggage and e-commerce declarations into a single digital framework aligned with international customs best practices.

“SCADS is designed to simplify declarations, reduce clearance time, eliminate manual bottlenecks and align our operations with global standards,” Alibo said.

The pilot phase is expected to run for five days, from May 18 to May 22, during which Customs officers will test the platform under live operational conditions before its planned nationwide rollout.

Industry stakeholders say the introduction of SCADS could help improve airport efficiency, reduce passenger wait times and strengthen border management as Nigeria accelerates digital reforms across trade and travel operations.

The launch ceremony was attended by senior Customs officers, officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, partner government agencies, technical teams and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.