The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially introduced the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS) at the International Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as part of efforts to modernise passenger processing, improve compliance, and strengthen Customs operations.
The newly introduced platform is designed to simplify baggage declarations for inbound international passengers by reducing delays, improving transparency in duty assessments, and enhancing operational efficiency across Nigeria’s international airports.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, described the initiative as another milestone in the Service’s ongoing digital transformation drive under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Adebakin explained that the development of SCADS followed operational issues experienced with the previous passenger declaration platform earlier in the year. According to her, rather than allowing the challenges to disrupt operations, the Service chose to develop a stronger and more efficient replacement.
She stated that the earlier difficulties presented an opportunity to improve the system and build a more reliable platform capable of meeting current operational demands.
According to the Customs official, the SCADS platform will allow international passengers to declare items before arriving in the country, making the process easier and reducing waiting times at airports.
She noted that the system would provide faster passenger clearance, improve compliance, and support smoother movement through airport terminals.
Speaking on revenue generation, Adebakin stressed that the goal of the Service was not to increase collections arbitrarily but to ensure accurate assessments through technology-driven processes.
She explained that the new platform removes subjectivity from revenue assessment by automatically calculating duties based on declared goods, quantity, and actual value.
According to her, this data-based process would guarantee transparency and ensure that the appropriate revenue is collected.
She also praised officers of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Unit, members of the deployment team, and technical partners for their contributions toward the successful pilot rollout.
Earlier, the Customs Area Controller of the FCT Area Command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, described the selection of the Command for the pilot phase as a reflection of confidence in its operational capacity.
Alibo explained that the platform combines passenger baggage and e-commerce declarations into a unified digital system designed to align with international Customs practices.
She added that SCADS would simplify declarations, reduce clearance delays, eliminate manual processes, and ensure operations meet global standards.
The Comptroller disclosed that the pilot phase of the initiative would run for five days, from May 18 to May 22, 2026, allowing Customs officials to test and assess the system under real operational conditions before expanding deployment nationwide.
The launch ceremony attracted senior Customs officers, officials of airport authorities, partner government agencies, technical teams, and key stakeholders within Nigeria’s aviation and border management sector.
Nigeria Customs Launches SCADS at Abuja Airport to Fast-Track Passenger Clearance
