The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has launched the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System, SCADS at the International Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
This new digital platform aimed at simplifying passenger baggage declaration and reducing delays at Nigerian airports.
The platform, officially unveiled on Monday, 18 May 2026, is expected to improve passenger clearance processes, enhance compliance, boost operational efficiency, and strengthen transparency in Customs revenue assessment.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, Oluyomi Adebakin, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the Service’s ongoing digital transformation drive under the leadership of Adewale Adeniyi.
According to her, the new system was developed following operational challenges experienced on the Service’s previous passenger declaration platform earlier this year.
“When the earlier platform experienced operational challenges, we chose not to see it as a setback. We saw it as an opportunity to build something better, stronger and more efficient,” she said.
Adebakin explained that the SCADS platform allows inbound international passengers to complete declarations before arriving in Nigeria, thereby reducing clearance time and eliminating several manual bottlenecks associated with airport processing.
“For passengers, this system creates the opportunity for advance declaration before arrival. It means faster clearance, easier compliance and smoother movement through our airports,” she stated.
She further noted that the platform would improve revenue collection accuracy by automating duty assessments based on declared items, quantities, and values.
“When we talk about revenue collection, it is not about collecting more or less. It is about collecting the right revenue. With this system, assessment will now be more objective, accurate and driven by data,” she added.
The Deputy Comptroller-General commended officers of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Unit, members of the deployment team, and technical partners involved in the rollout of the project.
Earlier, the Customs Area Controller of the FCT Area Command, Victoria Alibo, described the selection of the command for the pilot phase as a demonstration of confidence in its operational capabilities.
She explained that SCADS integrates passenger baggage and e-commerce declarations into a single digital framework aligned with global Customs standards and best practices.
“SCADS is designed to simplify declarations, reduce clearance time, eliminate manual bottlenecks and align our operations with international standards,” Alibo said.
She disclosed that the pilot phase of the platform would run from Monday, 18 May to Friday, 22 May 2026, during which the Service would evaluate the system’s performance in a live operational environment ahead of nationwide deployment.
The launch ceremony was attended by senior Customs officers, officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), partner government agencies, technical teams, and stakeholders within Nigeria’s aviation and border management sectors.
