The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has called for the accelerated adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technologies in customs administration and public-sector operations, describing them as critical tools for enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
Adeniyi made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 4th Biennial International Conference, organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences of the University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology at RUDN University, Russia.
The conference, themed “Disruptive Technology: Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy,” brought together scholars, policymakers, technocrats and academics to examine the growing influence of emerging technologies on governance, trade systems and institutional development.
According to the Customs boss, AI-driven systems are already transforming customs operations globally through improved trade monitoring, cargo inspection, revenue collection and border security management.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping how Customs institutions analyse trade flows, enhance decision-making and improve operational efficiency,” Adeniyi stated.
He noted that the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to align its operations with global best practices through technology-driven reforms aimed at strengthening institutional accountability and blocking revenue leakages.
“We are committed to aligning with emerging technological realities to improve revenue collection, facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen border security,” he added.
Adeniyi explained that AI-powered scanners and machine-learning systems are now being integrated into customs operations to improve risk management and cargo examination processes while reducing human interference.
He disclosed that the Service is transitioning to a more transparent, data-driven operational framework to enhance remittance accuracy and reconciliation processes within the nation’s revenue system.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept of the future. It is a present-day tool that provides us with the capability to transform how we manage and safeguard public funds,” he said during a recent capacity-building workshop on AI-driven revenue generation and reconciliation in Abuja.
The Comptroller-General further stressed that effective economic management requires collaboration among government agencies, financial institutions, auditors, legislators and technology providers.
“No institution can effectively deliver on economic management in isolation; collaboration is essential to building sustainable national systems,” Adeniyi said.
Industry stakeholders and lawmakers have also commended the Service’s growing embrace of technology-driven reforms.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, described the deployment of AI in revenue-generating agencies as timely and necessary.
“There is no better time than now to deploy AI tools in revenue-generating agencies like Customs. This will help block leakages, enhance accountability and improve overall performance,” Salam said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, urged public institutions to build resilient systems that support future generations while responsibly embracing innovation.
Observers say the Nigeria Customs Service’s increasing adoption of AI reflects a broader shift toward digital governance and technology-enabled public administration in Nigeria.
Experts believe that deploying AI-driven systems across customs operations could significantly improve transparency, reduce corruption risks, accelerate trade facilitation, and enhance national revenue performance.
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