In a bid to eliminate delays and improve passenger clearance at Nigeria’s international airports, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a new digital baggage declaration platform at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

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‎The system, known as the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS), was unveiled as a pilot project at the airport’s international wing, according to a statement issued by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada.

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‎Maiwada said the platform allows inbound passengers to electronically declare accompanied baggage and commercial items before arriving in Nigeria, in a move aimed at reducing manual processing and improving efficiency at the borders.

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‎Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said the initiative was developed after earlier digital passenger clearance systems experienced technical challenges.

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‎She said the agency treated the setback as an opportunity to redesign a more robust and efficient platform that aligns with global best practices in border management.

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‎According to Adebakin, the SCADS platform will significantly reduce clearance time by allowing passengers to submit declarations in advance, thereby improving compliance and easing movement through airports.

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‎“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 said.

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‎The Customs Service also explained that the system automates tariff assessment, removing manual calculations and reducing the risk of human interference in duty determination.

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‎Adebakin noted that import duties would now be computed automatically based on the quantity and verified value of declared goods, ensuring greater accuracy and transparency in revenue collection.

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‎“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.

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‎The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Command has been selected for the pilot phase of the rollout.

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‎The Customs Area Controller for the command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, said the platform integrates passenger baggage and e-commerce declarations into a single digital framework designed to eliminate bottlenecks and align Nigeria’s operations with international standards.

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‎According to her, the live testing phase will run for five days, from Monday 18 May to Friday 22 May 2026, to allow technical teams to monitor performance and resolve potential system issues before nationwide deployment.

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‎The launch was attended by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other aviation and border management stakeholders.

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