Some experts have commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for deploying the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS) at the International wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The SCADS, which was officially unveiled by the NCS on May 18, aims to improve passenger clearance, compliance and customs operations.
The platform, designed to simplify baggage declaration for inbound international passengers, aims to reduce manual bottlenecks, improve transparency in revenue assessment and enhance operational efficiency at Nigeria’s international airports.
The NCS announced that a five-day pilot phase would be conducted, during which officers would evaluate the system in a live environment ahead of nationwide deployment.
An expert on customs, Mr Okey Ibeke, described the unveiling of SCADS as timely and a smart move, adding that the decision to test-run the project at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was a step in the right direction.
“Its a right policy, right timing, right airport and right solution to difficulties passengers are facing,” he said.
Ibeke, a Principal Consultant at International Trade Advisory Services Ltd, said SCADS could reduce corruption and waiting times if the NCS continued investing in staff training, provided adequate kiosks and held officers accountable for ignoring declarations.
Similarly, the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC), said SCADS was a positive step towards customs modernisation and passenger trade facilitation.
The Head Research, SEREC’s, Dr Eugene Nweke, described SCADS as a strategic trade facilitation and border management tool designed to enhance passenger clearance efficiency and promote voluntary compliance.
Nweke added that SCADS was designed to strengthen risk management and improve customs operational effectiveness through advance electronic declaration and intelligence-driven processing.
“We commend the Comptroller-General (C-G) of NCS and his management for sustaining the momentum of customs modernisation through the deployment of innovative digital solutions aimed at aligning Nigeria’s border administration with global best practices.
“The introduction of SCADS further demonstrates the service’s commitment to technology-driven reforms, operational efficiency, and improved stakeholder experience.
“From a policy and implementation perspective, SEREC considers SCADS as a complementary platform within the broader customs digital ecosystem.
“ Consequently, its optimal value will be realised through seamless integration with existing NCS platforms, including the Customs One Stop Shop framework, while maintaining alignment with the ongoing National Single Windows (NSW) implementation agenda,” he said.
According to him, SEREC encourages continuous interoperability among all customs and trade-related digital platforms.
This according to it, is to eliminate process duplication, enhance data integrity, facilitate intelligence sharing and promote a more coordinated border management system.
He said that as Nigeria transitions to a fully integrated NSW environment, initiatives such as SCADS should serve as critical building blocks for enhanced trade facilitation, passenger convenience, regulatory compliance, border security and revenue optimisation.
He said SEREC. remained committed to supporting reforms that advance transparency, predictability, efficiency and competitiveness within Nigeria’s maritime, aviation and international trade ecosystem.
