By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has showcased its digital transformation efforts at the 2026 World Customs Organisation (WCO) Smart Customs Project Global Event in Brussels, Belgium, highlighting the deployment of technology to modernise operations and strengthen trade facilitation.
The event, held from October 29 to 30 at the WCO Headquarters, brought together Customs administrations, technology experts and international stakeholders to examine how disruptive technologies can improve Customs operations, border management and legitimate international trade.
The NCS was represented by Assistant Comptroller Omolara Adedeji, who presented Nigeria’s experience and progress towards building a technology-driven Customs administration.
At a presentation titled “Nigeria Customs Service: The Journey Towards Smart Customs,” Adedeji outlined the Service’s transition from traditional Customs operations, characterised by manual processes, to integrated digital operations under its Modernisation Project.
She identified the development and deployment of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), as a major component of the transformation, supporting increased automation, electronic processing, data-driven decision-making and improved collaboration with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as private-sector stakeholders.
“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 identified smart technology and smart data as the two major pillars of Nigeria’s Smart Customs vision.
According to her, smart technology covers 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 also emphasised the importance of developing the human capacity required to sustain the transformation, particularly through staff upskilling and building a workforce with the technical competence to drive innovation.
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The Assistant Comptroller further highlighted the application of geospatial technology across various operational areas, including fleet management, asset management and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS).
She explained that the deployment of technology was extending beyond Customs declarations to strengthen operational monitoring, resource management and cargo visibility.
Adedeji said the Service was moving beyond basic process 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.
“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 added.
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.
The session featured presentations from Customs administrations that contributed case studies to the updated report, including Nigeria, represented by Adedeji, alongside officials from the General Administration of Customs of China and the Mauritius Revenue Authority.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by WCO Deputy Secretary General, Ricardo Treviño Chapa, while keynote addresses were delivered by Xueyan Guo, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of China’s General Administration of Customs, and Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee.
The programme also featured presentations on deliverables under the Smart Customs Project’s 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, with experts and representatives from Cambodia, Mexico, Türkiye and Vietnam discussing institutional preparedness, governance frameworks and the responsible deployment of emerging technologies.
