The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has presented its digital transformation initiatives at the 2026 World Customs Organisation (WCO) Smart Customs Project Global Event in Brussels, Belgium, highlighting its adoption of technology, artificial intelligence and data-driven systems to modernise Customs operations.
The two-day event, held from October 29 to 30 at the WCO Headquarters, brought together Customs administrations, technology experts and international stakeholders to examine how emerging technologies can improve border management, strengthen operational efficiency and facilitate legitimate international trade.
The NCS was represented by Assistant Comptroller Omolara Adedeji, who showcased Nigeria’s progress towards establishing a technology-driven Customs administration through its ongoing Modernisation Project.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by the WCO Deputy Secretary General, Ricardo Treviño Chapa, alongside keynote addresses by the Director General of the International Cooperation Department of China’s General Administration of Customs, Xueyan Guo, and Chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee, Eduard Hakobyan.
A major highlight of the first day was the launch and presentation of the updated WCO Study Report on Disruptive Technologies, which examined emerging technological developments, key findings and their implications for Customs administrations across member countries.
Nigeria was among the Customs administrations invited to present case studies featured in the updated report, alongside China’s General Administration of Customs and the Mauritius Revenue Authority.
In her presentation titled “Nigeria Customs Service: The Journey Towards Smart Customs,” Adedeji explained how the Service was transitioning from conventional manual procedures to integrated digital operations through its Modernisation Project.
She identified the development and deployment of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), as a major milestone in the transformation process, noting that the platform was facilitating 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 NCS is deliberately moving towards integrated digital operations to build a more efficient, responsive and technology-driven administration.
She explained that Nigeria’s Smart Customs vision rests on two major pillars: smart technology and smart data.
While smart technology focuses on automation, integrated systems, digital platforms and modern information and communications technology infrastructure, smart data involves intelligence-led interventions, data-driven risk management, analytics and improved information sharing.
Adedeji also underscored the importance of human capital development in sustaining the Service’s digital transformation, stressing the need to equip personnel with relevant technical skills and competencies to drive innovation and effectively utilise emerging technologies.
She further highlighted the application of geospatial technology in areas such as fleet management, asset management and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), explaining that the technology was extending digital transformation beyond Customs declarations to improve operational monitoring, resource management and cargo visibility.
The NCS representative noted that the Service’s modernisation agenda was advancing beyond basic automation towards intelligent Customs operations, with priority areas including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, predictive analytics, non-intrusive inspection, integrated border management, interoperability and real-time operational intelligence.
She said the adoption of these technologies, alongside investment in personnel, would enable the Service to anticipate operational risks, strengthen intelligence gathering and support seamless international trade.
The global event also featured presentations on deliverables under the WCO Smart Customs Project’s Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) and Blockchain packages.
These included technical reports, readiness self-assessment tools and practical case studies designed to guide Customs administrations in adopting emerging technologies.
Another session examined AI governance and deployment readiness in Customs operations, with experts and representatives from Cambodia, Mexico, Türkiye and Vietnam sharing perspectives on institutional preparedness, governance frameworks and the responsible application of artificial intelligence.
Nigeria’s participation at the event provided an opportunity to share its digital modernisation experience with the international Customs community while highlighting the role of B’Odogwu, smart data and emerging technologies in shaping the future of Customs administration.
