Customs Eyes $250bn in Modernisation Project, Trains 1,800 Officers on AI

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

Customs Eyes $250bn in Modernisation Project, Trains 1,800 Officers on AI

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By Tahir Ahmad,

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is projecting a staggering $250 billion in cumulative revenue over the next 20 years from its flagship E-Customs Modernisation Project—a $3.2 billion initiative that marks a radical shift from manual cargo handling to a fully digital system.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this in an upcoming State House documentary marking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second year in office.

The statement was released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to Adeniyi, the digital transformation is at the heart of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is already yielding tangible results.

The Service recorded an unprecedented ₦1.3 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025 alone—more than double the ₦600 billion collected during the same period in 2023.

“This is not due to an increase in import volumes. Imports have actually declined due to forex constraints. What has changed is efficiency, transparency, and enforcement,” the CG said.

Adeniyi said the E-Customs Modernisation Project will overhaul cargo processing, surveillance, and payment systems across ports and borders.

When fully deployed, the digital system is expected to unlock vast new revenue streams and plug systemic leakages that have historically drained the nation’s finances.

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In a move to further deepen trade facilitation, the Nigeria Customs is implementing the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, which fast-tracks clearance for compliant importers. Clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can ports have already been reduced from 21 days to 7–10 days for compliant traders.

On enforcement, the NCS has recovered over ₦64 billion from under-assessed and undervalued imports in the past nine months and dismantled smuggling rings operating at several land borders, including Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto.

“We’re no longer just chasing smugglers in the bush. We’re using data, surveillance drones, and intelligence to act in real-time,” Adeniyi said.

Joint patrols with the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Police have further boosted compliance at critical border points.

To support export growth, the NCS has introduced fast-track lanes for agro-exports and partnered with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). In 2024 alone, Nigeria exported over ₦340 billion worth of solid minerals and agricultural products—a 38% increase from the previous year.

As part of its internal reforms, more than 1,800 Customs officers have received specialised training in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and modern risk profiling. This is part of a strategic shift toward becoming an intelligence-led agency in line with global standards.

“Customs is no longer just about physical inspections. We are transforming into a data-driven and tech-powered agency,” the CG added.

Adeniyi reaffirmed that President Tinubu’s directive remains clear: block leakages, simplify trade, and boost revenue without placing additional burdens on Nigerians. “The results are beginning to speak for themselves,” he said.