Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in a major push to eliminate airport delays and modernise passenger clearance processes.
The new digital platform, unveiled on Monday at the airport’s International Wing, allows inbound international passengers to declare their baggage in advance, significantly reducing clearance time and improving compliance with customs regulations.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, described SCADS as a key milestone in the agency’s ongoing digital transformation drive under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi.
Adebakin said the system was developed in response to operational challenges encountered with a previous declaration platform earlier in the year, noting that the Service used the setback as an opportunity to build a more efficient solution.
“When the earlier platform experienced operational challenges, we chose not to see it as a setback. We saw it as an opportunity to build something better, stronger and more efficient,” she said.
According to her, SCADS enhances transparency in revenue generation by automating duty assessments based on declared goods, their quantities and actual value, thereby eliminating subjective calculations.
“For passengers, this system creates the opportunity for advance declaration before arrival. It means faster clearance, easier compliance and smoother movement through our airports,” she added.
Also speaking, the Customs Area Controller, FCT Area Command, Comptroller Victoria Alibo, said the platform integrates baggage and e-commerce declarations into a unified digital framework aligned with global best practices.
She noted that the pilot rollout at the Abuja command reflects confidence in its operational capacity, adding that the trial phase will run from May 18 to May 22, 2026, ahead of nationwide implementation.
“SCADS is designed to simplify declarations, reduce clearance time, eliminate manual bottlenecks and align our operations with international standards,” Alibo said.
The launch event attracted senior customs officials, representatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), partner agencies and key stakeholders in the aviation and border management sector.
The introduction of SCADS is expected to strengthen efficiency, transparency and data-driven operations across Nigeria’s international airports while improving the overall travel experience for passengers.
