…Highlights B’Odogwu, Data-Driven Operations, Artificial Intelligence In Modernisation Drive
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has showcased 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, from 29 to 30 October 2026. The Service was represented by Assistant Comptroller (AC) Omolara Adedeji, who presented Nigeria’s experience and progress towards building a technology-driven Customs administration.
The global event brought together Customs administrations, technology experts and international stakeholders to examine the application of disruptive technologies in strengthening Customs operations, improving border management and facilitating legitimate international trade. The opening ceremony featured remarks by the Deputy Secretary General of the WCO, Mr Ricardo Treviño Chapa. Ms Xueyan Guo, Director General of the International Cooperation Department, General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), and Mr Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, also delivered keynote addresses.
A major highlight of the first day’s programme 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 also featured presentations from Customs administrations that contributed case studies to the updated report, including Nigeria, represented by AC Adedeji, as well as 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 outlined the Service’s transition from traditional Customs operations, characterised by manual processes, towards 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, supporting increased automation, electronic processing, data-driven decision-making and stronger collaboration with government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and private-sector stakeholders.
According to her, “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 further identified smart technology and smart data as the two major components of Nigeria’s Smart Customs vision, explaining that while the former encompasses automation, integrated systems, digital platforms and modern ICT infrastructure, the latter focuses on intelligence-led interventions, data-driven risk management, analytics and improved information sharing.
The presentation also emphasised the Service’s strategic commitment to developing the human capacity required to sustain its digital transformation, particularly through upskilling personnel and building a workforce with the technical competence to drive innovation and deliver its Smart Customs vision.
AC Adedeji further highlighted the application of geospatial technology across different operational areas of the Service, including fleet management, asset management and the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS), demonstrating 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, with priority areas including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, predictive analytics, non-intrusive inspection, integrated border management, interoperability and real-time operational intelligence. As she explained, “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.”
The programme further 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, bringing together experts and representatives from Cambodia, Mexico, Türkiye, and Vietnam to discuss institutional preparedness, governance frameworks, and the responsible deployment of emerging technologies.
