The Nigeria Customs Service has announced plans to adopt artificial intelligence technologies as part of ongoing reforms to improve revenue collection, reduce leakages, and strengthen trade facilitation systems across the country.
The initiative is part of broader modernisation efforts being implemented under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who has emphasised digital transformation as a key pillar of operational efficiency within the service.
According to the agency, the planned AI deployment will focus on enhancing cargo inspection processes, strengthening risk management systems, and improving data-driven monitoring of imports and exports at Nigeria’s entry points.
The Customs Service is also engaging financial institutions to improve integration between trade documentation systems and banking platforms, with the aim of improving transparency in cross-border transactions and reducing compliance gaps.
Stakeholders in the banking sector have supported efforts to improve digital coordination between customs operations and financial systems, noting that such integration could enhance traceability of trade-related payments and strengthen overall revenue assurance for government agencies.
The reform initiative is also expected to be reviewed within relevant committees of the National Assembly of Nigeria, where lawmakers are considering policy frameworks to support digital transformation in customs administration while ensuring compliance with data protection and accountability standards.
Officials say the reforms align with Nigeria’s broader strategy to strengthen non-oil revenue generation and modernise public sector operations through emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics.
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