The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially launched a new automated passenger clearance system at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, aimed at streamlining baggage processing and eliminating manual bottlenecks for international travelers. The platform, known as the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS), was inaugurated as a pilot project at the airport's international wing.
Digital Declaration Before Arrival
According to a statement by the agency's National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, the digital platform allows inbound passengers to electronically declare accompanied baggage and commercial items before arriving in the country. This advance declaration is expected to significantly reduce processing times and improve compliance at border points.
Building a Better System
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, revealed that the initiative was developed as a superior alternative after the agency's previous digital passenger platform suffered technical issues earlier this year. She stated, "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." Adebakin further explained that the system enables travelers to log their items ahead of time, dramatically reducing processing times. "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 added.
Automated Tariff Assessment
A major feature of SCADS is the automation of tariff assessment, which customs officials say will remove human bias from the calculation of import duties. Under the new digital framework, duties are automatically computed based on the quantity and verified value of declared goods. "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," DCG Adebakin stated.
Pilot Phase in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Command has been selected to host the pilot phase of the rollout. The Customs Area Controller for the command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, noted that the software integrates passenger baggage and e-commerce into a single framework. "SCADS is designed to simplify declarations, reduce clearance time, eliminate manual bottlenecks and align our operations with international standards," Alibo said. The live testing environment is scheduled to run for five days, from Monday 18 May to Friday 22 May 2026, allowing technical teams to evaluate system stability and resolve any software bugs before the platform is deployed to international airports nationwide. The launch was attended by representatives from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), alongside aviation stakeholders and border security agencies.
