The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the Simplified Customs Advanced Declaration System (SCADS) at the international wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. This initiative is part of broader efforts to improve passenger clearance and overall customs operations.

The launch was announced by the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada. The digital platform is specifically designed to simplify the baggage declaration process for international passengers arriving in Nigeria. It aims to reduce manual processes, increase transparency in how duties are assessed, and boost efficiency at Nigeria's international airports.

Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, described SCADS as a significant step in the service's digital transformation. She noted that the system was developed in response to operational challenges encountered with an earlier passenger declaration platform introduced earlier in the year.

Adebakin stated that the new platform offers passengers the opportunity to declare items before their arrival. This is expected to result in quicker clearance times, easier compliance with customs regulations, and a more seamless experience for travelers passing through airports.

Furthermore, Adebakin highlighted that SCADS will eliminate subjective assessments of duties. The system will automatically calculate applicable duties based on the declared goods, their quantities, and their actual values. This data-driven approach is intended to improve transparency and ensure accurate customs duty assessments.