Nigeria Customs launches digital system to speed up airport clearance
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a new digital system to streamline passenger clearance at airports. The Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS) launched at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja this week. Officials say the platform will cut delays and improve revenue collection by automating duty assessments. The pilot phase of SCADS began on May 18 and will run until May 22 at Abuja airport. Passengers can now declare items before arrival, speeding up clearance and reducing manual checks. The system also removes subjective duty calculations by generating charges based on declared goods, quantities, and actual values.
The launch follows strong revenue growth under the NCS’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme. Collections under AEO jumped by 29.68%, rising from N1.222 trillion to N1.585 trillion. Customs duties paid under the scheme surged by 85.66%, driven by better compliance and increased trade volumes. In 2025, AEO accounted for 21.77% of the NCS’s total revenue of N7.281 trillion. Deputy Comptroller-General Oluyomi Adebakin called SCADS a key step in the service’s digital transformation. The trial involves Customs officers, technical teams, airport staff, and other aviation agencies. If successful, the system will expand to all Nigerian international airports to boost efficiency and transparency.
SCADS aims to simplify baggage declarations, reduce bottlenecks, and ensure fairer duty assessments. The pilot’s results will determine whether the system rolls out nationwide. Meanwhile, the NCS continues to report rising revenues from trade facilitation programmes like AEO.
