BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has showcased its ongoing digital transformation initiatives and the progress of its modernisation agenda at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Smart Customs Project Global Event 2026, held at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, from October 29 to 30, 2026.

The Service was represented at the international gathering by Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Omolara Adedeji, who presented Nigeria’s experience and achievements in its drive towards building a technology-driven, efficient and intelligence-led Customs administration.

The two-day event brought together Customs administrations, technology experts and international stakeholders to explore how disruptive technologies could strengthen Customs operations, enhance border management, improve institutional efficiency and facilitate legitimate international trade.

The opening ceremony featured remarks by the WCO Deputy Secretary General, Mr Ricardo Treviño Chapa. Other distinguished speakers included Ms Xueyan Guo, Director General of the International Cooperation Department, General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), and Mr Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee, who delivered keynote addresses.

A major highlight of the first day was the formal unveiling and presentation of the updated WCO Study Report on Disruptive Technologies, which examined the evolution of the report, its key findings and its implications for WCO member administrations.

The session also featured presentations by Customs administrations whose experiences and case studies contributed to the updated report. They included Nigeria, represented by Assistant Comptroller Adedeji, alongside officials of the General Administration of Customs of China and the Mauritius Revenue Authority.

In her presentation, titled “Nigeria Customs Service: The Journey Towards Smart Customs,” Adedeji highlighted the Service’s strategic transition from conventional Customs operations, characterised largely by manual processes, to integrated digital operations under its Modernisation Project.

She identified the development and deployment of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), as a major milestone in the Service’s digital transformation drive. The platform is designed to strengthen automation, streamline electronic processing, promote data-driven decision-making and enhance collaboration with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as private-sector stakeholders.

According to her, the Service is pursuing a deliberate and systematic transition towards a fully integrated digital Customs administration.

“The NCS is undergoing a deliberate transition from traditional Customs operations towards integrated digital operations. Through the Service’s Modernisation Project, we are strengthening automation, electronic processing and data-driven decision-making to build a more efficient, responsive and technology-driven Customs administration,” she stated.

Adedeji explained that Nigeria’s Smart Customs vision rests on two fundamental pillars: smart technology and smart data.

She noted that smart technology encompasses automation, integrated systems, digital platforms and modern information and communications technology infrastructure, while smart data focuses on intelligence-led interventions, data-driven risk management, advanced analytics and improved information sharing.

The presentation also underscored the Service’s commitment to developing the human capacity necessary to sustain its digital transformation agenda. Particular emphasis was placed on continuous professional development, personnel upskilling and building a workforce equipped with the technical expertise required to drive innovation and maximise the benefits of emerging technologies.

Adedeji further highlighted the deployment of geospatial technology across various operational areas of the Service, including fleet management, asset management and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS).

These applications, she explained, demonstrate how the NCS is extending technology beyond Customs declarations and clearance processes to improve operational monitoring, optimise resource management and strengthen cargo visibility.

She also noted that the Service’s modernisation drive was evolving beyond basic process automation towards more intelligent and predictive Customs operations.

Among the emerging priority areas she identified were Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), predictive analytics, non-intrusive inspection technologies, integrated border management, system interoperability 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.

Other sessions at the global event examined the Smart Customs Project’s deliverables under its Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and Blockchain work packages. These included technical reports, readiness self-assessment tools and practical case studies designed to guide Customs administrations in adopting emerging technologies.

Another important session focused on AI governance and deployment readiness in Customs, featuring experts and representatives from Cambodia, Mexico, Türkiye and Vietnam. Discussions centred on institutional preparedness, governance frameworks and the responsible adoption and deployment of artificial intelligence in Customs operations.

Nigeria’s participation at the event underscores the NCS’s growing engagement with the international Customs community and its determination to align its modernisation agenda with global best practices in digital innovation, operational efficiency, border security and trade facilitation.

Through initiatives such as B’Odogwu and its broader Smart Customs vision, the Service is positioning itself for a more technology-driven future, where intelligent systems, reliable data and skilled personnel will play increasingly critical roles in delivering efficient Customs services and supporting Nigeria’s economic development.