Customs strengthens digital controls, opens operations to independent scrutiny

Stanley Ihedigbo

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and institutional reform, saying its ongoing digital transformation is significantly reducing human discretion, revenue leakages and opportunities for procedural abuse across the nation’s trade corridors.

The Service also said it remains open to legitimate independent scrutiny, stressing that its operations are subject to statutory oversight by relevant government institutions and anti-corruption agencies.

The position was made known following questions raised in an investigative report published by SaharaReporters on August 7, 2026, which examined enforcement activities along border corridors in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States, while also raising concerns about vehicle valuation procedures at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and PTML Area Commands.

Responding to the issues, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, explained that the Service’s ongoing reforms were specifically designed to address some of the longstanding challenges associated with customs administration, including excessive human discretion, revenue leakage and inconsistent valuation practices.

According to him, the digitalisation of customs processes has become a central component of the Service’s modernisation agenda, with technology increasingly being deployed to standardise procedures and strengthen accountability.

One of the major reforms highlighted by the Service is the digital Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)-Valuation framework currently used for vehicle clearance nationwide.

DC Maiwada explained that under the system, standard vehicles are assessed automatically using global manufacturer specification databases.

This, he said, significantly limits human intervention in the valuation process and helps ensure that similar vehicles are subjected to consistent valuation parameters.

He noted that only vehicles with non-standard or non-compliant VINs are subjected to the extended valuation procedure.

Such vehicles, he explained, may include specialised heavy equipment, classic vehicles, customised builds and vintage models.

“These cases are routed through the 846 Extended Procedure Code,” he said, adding that applications under the procedure require secondary approval from designated Valuation Officers and Area Controllers before clearance can be completed.

The Service said the additional layer of verification is intended to ensure that exceptions to the automated valuation process do not become avenues for arbitrary assessments or revenue manipulation.

Beyond the point of clearance, the NCS also pointed to its post-clearance audit mechanism as another layer of institutional control.

According to the Service, post-clearance audits enable officials to examine transactions after goods have been released and identify discrepancies that may not have been immediately detected during the initial clearance process.

Where underpayment of duties is discovered, Demand Notices may be issued for recovery of the short-collected revenue.

The Service added that customs agents found to have violated established procedures could also face sanctions, including suspension of their clearance licences.

Officials said revenue collection at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and PTML Area Commands has reached historic levels under the current framework, which they attributed partly to stronger digital controls and enhanced monitoring.

The NCS maintained that the increased deployment of technology has not only improved revenue collection but has also strengthened the ability of the Service to monitor transactions and identify irregularities.

On enforcement operations along the country’s land borders, the Service rejected suggestions that smuggling activities are occurring unchecked.

It said seizure figures routinely presented by Area Controllers during media briefings provide evidence of sustained enforcement activities across the nation’s border corridors.

The Service reiterated that its mandate requires it to enforce federal trade restrictions while simultaneously facilitating legitimate commerce.

It stressed that its approach is aimed at maintaining a balance between national security, revenue protection and the need to ensure that legitimate businesses and traders can move goods through the country’s ports and borders within the law.

According to the NCS, the seizure of prohibited goods and the prosecution of offenders remain part of its broader strategy to protect the Nigerian economy and prevent illicit trade.

The Service also addressed concerns surrounding its recent recruitment exercise, particularly the shortlist for Assistant Superintendent of Customs II.

It explained that the recruitment process, from application and computer-based testing to physical screening and final selection, was conducted under the direct supervision of the Nigeria Customs Service Board.

The Service said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and relevant Federal Character Commission guidelines.

It further clarified that the published shortlist represents provisional offers and that successful candidates remain subject to medical examinations and background verification before final confirmation.

The Service said the process was designed to ensure fairness, transparency and compliance with established recruitment procedures.

Promotion and Career Progression
On questions concerning internal succession and promotion, the NCS said the process is governed by the Public Service Rules and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

According to the Service, promotion is based on established criteria including seniority, demonstrated competence through promotion examinations and the availability of vacancies within the approved establishment.

It rejected suggestions that promotion and career advancement are determined by personal or group preferences.

Officials said the current administration has also made efforts to ensure that promotion exercises are conducted more regularly and that qualified officers are not unnecessarily delayed in their career progression.

The Service maintained that no qualified officer should be denied advancement simply because of the year in which the officer was recruited.

The NCS further identified leadership and professional development as important components of its modernisation programme.

It pointed to training programmes conducted at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, as well as professional courses undertaken by officers abroad.

The Service said the training programmes are intended to equip officers with the skills required to operate within an increasingly digital and internationally integrated customs environment.

According to the NCS, such programmes are funded through approved federal budgetary allocations or formal technical assistance arrangements with recognised international partners, including the World Customs Organisation.

The Service said investment in human capital remains necessary if the benefits of digital transformation are to be sustained.

Perhaps most significantly, the NCS said it does not consider legitimate oversight a threat to its operations.

The Service reiterated that it operates under the statutory oversight of the Federal Ministry of Finance and is subject to scrutiny by the National Assembly and the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.

It also acknowledged the oversight roles of anti-corruption institutions, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The Service said it neither fears nor evades legitimate scrutiny, stressing that oversight remains an important component of accountable public administration.

It maintained that allegations of misconduct should be subjected to appropriate investigation and that officers or stakeholders found culpable should face the consequences provided under Nigerian law.

“The management maintains a firm, intolerant posture toward corruption, revenue leakage, or administrative misconduct,” the Service stated.

It added that any officer or stakeholder found to have participated in unethical conduct would be subjected to institutional disciplinary procedures and, where appropriate, prosecution under the law.

The NCS said its ongoing reforms are ultimately aimed at building a modern customs administration capable of supporting legitimate trade, protecting government revenue and strengthening national economic security.

It maintained that the combination of digital systems, post-clearance audits, structured recruitment and promotion procedures, professional training and statutory oversight represents a deliberate effort to build a more transparent and accountable institution.

As public attention continues to focus on customs enforcement and administration, the Service said it would continue to improve its systems while remaining accountable to the Nigerian public and the institutions empowered by law to scrutinise its activities.