By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has showcased its ongoing digital transformation initiatives at the 2026 World Customs Organisation (WCO) Smart Customs Project Global Event in Brussels, Belgium, highlighting its progress in deploying technology, artificial intelligence and data-driven systems to modernise Customs operations and strengthen international trade facilitation.
The two-day global event, held from October 29 to 30, 2026, at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, brought together Customs administrations, technology experts and international stakeholders to examine how emerging and disruptive technologies could improve Customs operations, strengthen border management and promote legitimate international trade.
The Nigeria Customs Service was represented by Assistant Comptroller (AC) Omolara Adedeji, who presented Nigeria’s experience and progress towards building a technology-driven Customs administration.
In her presentation titled, “Nigeria Customs Service: The Journey Towards Smart Customs,” Adedeji outlined the Service’s transition from conventional Customs operations, largely characterised by manual processes, to integrated digital operations under its ongoing Modernisation Project.
She identified the development and deployment of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), as a major component of the transformation, noting that the platform was designed to support increased automation, electronic processing, data-driven decision-making and improved collaboration with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as private-sector stakeholders.
According to her, the Service is pursuing a deliberate transition towards integrated digital operations to enhance efficiency, responsiveness and service delivery.
“The NCS is undergoing a deliberate transition from traditional Customs operations towards integrated digital operations. Through the Service’s Modernisation Project, we are strengthening automation, electronic processing and data-driven decision-making to build a more efficient, responsive and technology-driven Customs administration,” she said.
Adedeji explained that Nigeria’s Smart Customs vision rests on two major pillars: smart technology and smart data.
She said smart technology encompasses automation, integrated systems, digital platforms and modern information and communications technology infrastructure, while smart data focuses on intelligence-led interventions, data-driven risk management, analytics and improved information sharing.
She noted that the integration of both components would enable the Service to improve operational efficiency, strengthen risk identification and support informed decisions across its various operational activities.
The Customs representative also highlighted the importance of human capacity development in sustaining the Service’s digital transformation agenda.
She stressed that technology-driven Customs administration requires a skilled and technically competent workforce capable of managing emerging technologies, interpreting operational data and translating digital innovations into practical improvements in service delivery.
According to her, the NCS is therefore prioritising the continuous upskilling of its personnel and building the technical expertise required to support innovation and sustain its Smart Customs vision.
Another major area highlighted during the presentation was the application of geospatial technology across different operational activities of the Service.
Adedeji explained that geospatial technology was being deployed in fleet management, asset management and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), demonstrating how digital innovation could extend beyond Customs declarations to improve operational monitoring, resource management and cargo visibility.
She said the adoption of these technologies was part of a broader effort to move the Service beyond basic process automation towards intelligent Customs operations.
She identified Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), predictive analytics, non-intrusive inspection technologies, integrated border management, interoperability and real-time operational intelligence as priority areas in the Service’s modernisation drive.
“By prioritising these technologies and investing in the people who will drive their application, we are working towards a system that anticipates risks, supports real-time operational intelligence and facilitates seamless trade,” she stated.
The presentation further demonstrated the NCS’s commitment to aligning its modernisation efforts with global Customs standards and emerging international best practices, particularly in the deployment of digital solutions to address the changing demands of cross-border trade.
The first day of the global event featured the formal launch and presentation of the updated WCO Study Report on Disruptive Technologies, which examined the evolution of the report, its major findings and its relevance to WCO member administrations.
The session also featured presentations from Customs administrations whose experiences and case studies contributed to the updated report.
Apart from Nigeria, represented by Adedeji, officials from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Mauritius Revenue Authority also presented their respective experiences.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by the Deputy Secretary General of the WCO, Mr Ricardo Treviño Chapa, while the Director General of the International Cooperation Department of China’s General Administration of Customs, Ms Xueyan Guo, and the Chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee, Mr Eduard Hakobyan, delivered keynote addresses.
The event also examined the practical deliverables of the WCO Smart Customs Project under its Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and Blockchain technology packages.
These included technical reports, readiness self-assessment tools and practical case studies designed to assist Customs administrations in understanding, evaluating and adopting emerging technologies within their respective operational environments.
Another important session focused on AI governance and deployment readiness in Customs administrations.
The session brought together experts and representatives from Cambodia, Mexico, Türkiye and Vietnam to discuss institutional preparedness, governance frameworks and the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence in Customs operations.
Discussions centred on the need for appropriate institutional structures, effective governance mechanisms and adequate technical capacity to ensure that emerging technologies are deployed responsibly and deliver practical benefits.
The participation of the Nigeria Customs Service in the global event provides an opportunity to share the country’s ongoing modernisation experience while learning from technological developments and innovations being implemented by other Customs administrations.
It also reflects the Service’s engagement with international efforts to transform Customs administration through digitalisation, intelligence-led operations and the adoption of emerging technologies.
With the growing complexity of international trade and cross-border transactions, the NCS’s emphasis on B’Odogwu, smart technology, data analytics, geospatial systems and artificial intelligence forms part of its broader strategy to improve Customs processes, strengthen border management and facilitate legitimate trade.
The Service’s presentation in Brussels placed Nigeria’s digital transformation experience within the wider global conversation on the future of Customs administration, where technology, data and human capacity are increasingly central to efficient, secure and responsive border operations.
