SCADS platform promises faster passenger clearance, automated duty assessment, and reduced delays for international travelers…..
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has rolled out a new digital platform aimed at transforming how inbound passengers process baggage declarations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The newly introduced system, known as the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS), was officially launched at the airport’s International Wing as part of the agency’s wider push toward modernising Customs operations and improving passenger experience across Nigeria’s airports.
Customs officials say the platform is expected to significantly reduce delays during passenger clearance by allowing travelers to declare items electronically before arriving in the country.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, the 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 Adewale Adeniyi.
According to Adebakin, the decision to introduce SCADS followed operational issues experienced with the Service’s earlier declaration platform earlier this year.
Rather than allowing those challenges to disrupt operations, she explained that the agency used the opportunity to develop a more efficient and reliable system capable of improving service delivery at international entry points.
She noted that the new platform is designed to simplify compliance for travelers while also improving transparency in Customs procedures.
“With SCADS, passengers now have the opportunity to make declarations ahead of arrival. This will support faster processing, easier compliance, and smoother movement through our airports,” she said.
The Customs official further explained that the system would help eliminate inconsistencies in revenue assessment by automating the calculation of duties based on the value, quantity, and nature of items declared by passengers.
She stressed that the goal of the Service is not simply to generate more revenue, but to ensure accurate and transparent collection.
According to her, the automated process will make assessments more objective, data-driven, and less dependent on manual interpretation.
Adebakin also commended officers of the Non-Intrusive Inspection Unit, members of the technical deployment team, and partner agencies involved in the successful rollout of the pilot phase.
Also speaking at the event, the Customs Area Controller for the FCT Area Command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, described the selection of the Abuja command for the pilot implementation as a reflection of confidence in the command’s operational capacity.
She explained that SCADS integrates passenger baggage declarations and e-commerce processes into a unified digital framework aligned with global Customs standards and international best practices.
Alibo added that the pilot phase of the initiative would run from May 18 to May 22, 2026, allowing officials to monitor the system’s performance in a live airport environment before expanding deployment nationwide.
The launch event was attended by senior Customs officials, representatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), partner government agencies, aviation stakeholders, and members of the technical implementation team.
With the introduction of SCADS, the Nigeria Customs Service is expected to deepen its technology-driven reforms aimed at improving efficiency, boosting transparency, and enhancing passenger experience at the country’s international airports.
