Customs Deploys Digital Baggage Declaration System at Seme Border

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has commenced the full implementation of a simplified digital system for declaring passenger baggage, with the Command recording an average clearance turnaround time of less than five minutes.

The initiative, according to the Command, is aimed at reducing delays, improving transparency and making the clearance of dutiable passenger goods more predictable for travellers and cross-border traders using the Seme border corridor.

Under the new Simplified Declaration for Passenger Baggage Import system, passengers can initiate their baggage declarations using mobile devices or complete the process through designated digital kiosks at the Command.

The system uses standardised and pre-programmed assessment tables to determine applicable duties on declared personal goods. Once payment is made, receipts are automatically generated, reducing the need for manual processing and discretionary assessment.

The Customs Service said the digital process was designed to provide passengers with a clearer and more efficient means of declaring goods while strengthening revenue collection and facilitating legitimate cross-border movement.

Since the commencement of the deployment, the Seme Area Command said it had generated N10,340,260.02 in revenue from passenger baggage declarations alone.

The Command said the revenue was collected through the automated process, which provides a direct channel for the payment of duties into the Federation Account.

The development comes as the NCS continues to expand technology-driven processes at border commands as part of efforts to modernise customs operations and improve the experience of legitimate travellers and traders.

The Seme Command, however, stressed that faster clearance would not come at the expense of border security or enforcement of customs regulations.

It said the simplified declaration system was being implemented alongside strengthened risk management and intelligence-led enforcement measures aimed at identifying attempts to conceal commercial quantities of restricted or prohibited goods in passenger baggage.

According to the Command, the objective is to strike a balance between facilitating legitimate trade and travel and preventing smuggling and other forms of illicit cross-border activity.

The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, said the deployment reflected the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to using technology and innovative processes to promote trade facilitation, transparency, accountability and compliance.

Kaila encouraged passengers, cross-border traders and other members of the trading community to take advantage of the simplified declaration system and comply with applicable customs requirements.

He also assured stakeholders that legitimate travel and commerce would continue to receive the necessary facilitation within the framework of national security and economic protection.

The Command said it would continue to work with relevant stakeholders and sister government agencies operating along the Seme border corridor to ensure the smooth movement of legitimate passengers and goods.

It added that the digital baggage declaration system formed part of broader measures to modernise customs operations while improving passenger facilitation and strengthening revenue collection through transparent, technology-driven processes.