Nigeria Customs Showcases Smart Digital Transformation Drive at WCO Global Event in Brussels
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has presented its ongoing digital transformation journey at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Smart Customs Project Global Event 2026, held at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on 29 and 30 October 2026.
The Service was represented by Assistant Comptroller (AC) Omolara Adedeji, who outlined Nigeria’s experience and progress towards building a technology-driven Customs administration.
The event brought together Customs administrations, technology experts and international stakeholders to examine how disruptive technologies can strengthen Customs operations, improve border management and facilitate legitimate international trade.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by the WCO Deputy Secretary General, Mr Ricardo Treviño Chapa. Keynote addresses were delivered by Ms Xueyan Guo, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), and Mr Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia.
A major highlight of the first day was the formal launch and presentation of the updated WCO Study Report on Disruptive Technologies, which examined the report’s evolution, key findings and relevance to WCO Members. Customs administrations that contributed case studies to the updated report also made presentations.
These included Nigeria, represented by AC Adedeji, alongside officials from the General Administration of Customs of China and the Mauritius Revenue Authority.
In her presentation, titled “Nigeria Customs Service: The Journey Towards Smart Customs,” AC Adedeji described the Service’s transition from traditional operations, characterised by manual processes, to integrated digital operations under its Modernisation Project.
She highlighted the development and deployment of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), as a significant component of the transformation.
The system, she said, supports greater automation, electronic processing and data-driven decision-making, as well as stronger collaboration with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and private-sector stakeholders.
“The NCS is undergoing a deliberate transition from traditional Customs operations towards integrated digital operations,” she said. “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.”
AC Adedeji identified smart technology and smart data as the two major components of Nigeria’s Smart Customs vision.
The former, she explained, encompasses automation, integrated systems, digital platforms and modern ICT infrastructure, while the latter focuses on intelligence-led interventions, data-driven risk management, analytics and improved information sharing.
Investing in people
The presentation also underscored the Service’s strategic commitment to developing the human capacity needed to sustain its digital transformation. This includes upskilling personnel and building a workforce with the technical competence to drive innovation and deliver the Smart Customs vision.
AC Adedeji further highlighted the use of geospatial technology across several operational areas, including fleet management, asset management and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS).
This, she said, demonstrates how technology is being deployed beyond Customs declarations to strengthen operational monitoring, resource management and cargo visibility.
She noted that the Service’s transformation was moving beyond basic process automation towards intelligent Customs operations.
Priority areas include Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, predictive analytics, non-intrusive inspection, integrated border management, interoperability and real-time operational intelligence.
“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 said.
The programme also featured presentations on the Smart Customs Project’s deliverables under its Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and Blockchain packages, including technical reports, readiness self-assessment tools and practical case studies.
Another session examined AI governance and deployment readiness in Customs. It brought together experts and representatives from Cambodia, Mexico, Türkiye and Vietnam to discuss institutional preparedness, governance frameworks and the responsible deployment of emerging technologies.
