Former National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr. Eugene Nweke, has emphasised the need to sustain and deepen digital transformation within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), describing it as a critical strategy in the ongoing war against smuggling and revenue evasion.
In a policy commentary titled “The Imperative of Sustaining Digital Transformation in Customs Administration: A Critical Component in the War Against Smuggling and Revenue Evasion,” Nweke noted that the NCS is grappling with the operations of well-coordinated smuggling cartels and revenue evasion syndicates, often aided by insider networks within ministries and regulatory agencies. He said these illicit actors continue to exploit Nigeria’s porous borders and loopholes in the customs system, undermining national security and economic integrity.
Nweke, however, lauded the efforts of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose administration has taken decisive steps by embracing digital transformation and port automation as tools to disrupt these illegal activities. He said the CGC’s policy direction, anchored on trade facilitation, revenue optimisation, intelligence-driven enforcement, stakeholder engagement, and digital integration, is already yielding positive results, especially in the areas of real-time cargo tracking, enhanced transparency, and improved revenue generation.
The freight forwarder raised alarm over the increasing use of bonded terminals as conduits for the importation of prohibited pharmaceutical products, noting that recent investigations have shown that some drug trafficking syndicates collaborate with local agents and licensed customs operators to set up bonded terminals, which they then use to facilitate the entry of illicit drugs into the country. He described this development as dangerous and urged the CGC to maintain his stance on revoking the licences of any terminal implicated in such operations. He recalled the CGC’s reference to the perpetrators as “Merchants of Death” and expressed strong support for the Service’s zero-tolerance policy on such practices.
Nweke further pointed out that the digital transformation initiatives undertaken by the NCS have not only boosted operational efficiency but also fostered better collaboration with other regulatory agencies, resulting in more robust enforcement strategies. He urged the Service to remain focused on sustaining these digital efforts as a means of blocking revenue leakages, curbing insider compromise, and dismantling the networks that sustain smuggling.
In his recommendations, Nweke called for the strengthening of existing digital systems, regular review of bonded terminal operations to prevent abuse, and deeper collaboration with other enforcement agencies. He also advocated for enhanced transparency and accountability in customs operations to build stakeholder trust and reduce opportunities for corruption.
He concluded by affirming that the fight against smuggling and revenue sabotage must be technology-driven, and that the foundation already laid by the current CGC should be consolidated with consistent political will and institutional support. According to him, the path to customs reform is clear, and sustained digital transformation remains Nigeria’s best bet in defeating the cartels and securing economic prosperity.
