Seme Customs deploys digital baggage system, cuts clearance time to under 5 minutes

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has deployed the Simplified Declaration for Passenger Baggage Import system, cutting the average clearance time for passenger baggage to less than five minutes.

The new digital system, according to the Command, is designed to simplify the declaration and assessment of passenger baggage, reduce clearance time, improve transparency and facilitate the movement of legitimate travellers and cross-border traders through the Seme border corridor.

The Command also generated ₦10.34 million from passenger baggage declarations within the first few days of the system’s deployment, providing an automated channel for the collection of applicable duties.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent of Customs John Tunde Ayagbalo, the simplified declaration system allows passengers to initiate baggage declarations using mobile devices or complete the process at designated digital kiosks at the Command.

The system applies standardised and pre-programmed assessment tables to declared personal goods, automatically calculating applicable duties and generating receipts upon payment.

The deployment, the Command said, is intended to reduce manual processes and discretionary assessment while providing passengers with a more transparent, predictable and efficient process for clearing dutiable goods.

Since its operationalisation, the Command has recorded an average passenger baggage clearance turnaround time of under five minutes, which it said demonstrates the impact of digital processing on passenger facilitation.

Within the first few days of implementation, the Command generated ₦10,340,260.02 from passenger baggage declarations alone.

The automated process, according to the Command, provides a direct and transparent channel for collecting duties payable to the Federation Account.

The digitalisation of baggage clearance is, however, being implemented alongside strengthened enforcement measures to ensure that trade facilitation does not compromise border security or compliance with customs laws.

The Command said it continues to deploy enhanced risk management and intelligence-led controls to identify and intercept attempts to conceal commercial quantities of restricted or prohibited goods as passenger baggage.

The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, reaffirmed the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, to the deployment of technology and innovative processes to promote trade facilitation, transparency, accountability and compliance at the nation’s borders.

Kaila urged passengers, cross-border traders and other members of the trading community to take advantage of the simplified declaration system and comply with applicable customs requirements.

He assured the public that legitimate travel and commerce would continue to receive the necessary facilitation within the framework of national security and economic protection.

The Command said the simplified baggage declaration system forms part of its broader efforts to modernise customs operations, improve the passenger experience and strengthen revenue collection through transparent and technology-driven processes.

It added that it would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and sister agencies operating at the Seme border corridor to facilitate the smooth movement of legitimate passengers and goods while maintaining effective controls against smuggling and other forms of illicit cross-border trade.