Lawmakers applaud Customs reforms as Senate Committee on Customs and Excise tours the Service’s modern technology and operational facilities in Abuja.

By Harriet Tornguvan 

The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has commended the ongoing reforms at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), describing the technology-driven modernisation agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, as a significant step towards improving efficiency, trade facilitation and revenue generation.

The commendation was made on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a two-day retreat between the NCS and the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, held to strengthen legislative oversight and review the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

As part of the retreat, members of the committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were briefed on the Service’s modernisation initiatives, technology-driven operations and institutional reforms.

Speaking after the tour, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, said the visit enabled lawmakers to see firsthand the transformation taking place within the Service.

Jibrin said the committee had previously heard about the reforms but was impressed by what it witnessed during the tour, particularly the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations.

“We have heard about these reforms from afar, but today we have seen them ourselves. The transformation taking place in the NCS is remarkable, particularly in the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations that are repositioning the Service for greater efficiency,” he said.

The senator said the reforms had also given lawmakers greater confidence that funds appropriated to the Customs Service were being judiciously utilised.

He noted that the committee now had a clearer understanding of how capital expenditure requests by the NCS translated into tangible improvements in its operations.

“When the NCS comes before the National Assembly seeking approval for capital expenditure, we now have a clearer understanding of what those resources are being used for,” Jibrin said.

He added that the reforms witnessed during the tour demonstrated that government resources were being responsibly invested to strengthen Customs operations, facilitate legitimate trade and improve national revenue.

Responding, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, attributed the progress recorded by the Service to the deliberate deployment of technology across its administrative and operational activities.

Adeniyi explained that the digital transformation began with personnel administration, including postings, staff matters and pensions, before being extended to the Service’s core operational responsibilities.

“Technology helps us to work faster and more efficiently. We started by deploying digital solutions into personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions before extending them to our core operational responsibilities, and we will continue until virtually every aspect of Customs operations is technology-driven,” he said.

The Customs boss also disclosed that advanced technology was being deployed to strengthen enforcement and border management operations.

He listed geospatial intelligence, digital surveillance and virtual shooting simulators among the innovations being introduced to improve the effectiveness of Customs personnel.

According to him, geospatial intelligence would enable the Service to map patrol routes and strategically position checkpoints across the country, while modern training facilities would enhance the operational readiness of officers.

“We are deploying geospatial intelligence to map our patrol routes and position our checkpoints more efficiently across the country. Combined with modern training facilities such as our virtual shooting range, these innovations will significantly strengthen our enforcement capabilities,” Adeniyi said.

The Comptroller-General further explained that several of the Service’s modernisation initiatives were supported by the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

He cited the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study and scanner deployment as some of the reforms designed to improve customs administration and facilitate international trade.

“The law requires us to modernise our operations. Initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study, scanner deployment and other technology-driven reforms are all backed by the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act,” he said.

Adeniyi assured that the Service would continue to implement the reforms in line with the Federal Government’s broader reform agenda, with emphasis on efficiency, transparency, trade facilitation and improved revenue mobilisation.

The retreat between the NCS and the Senate Committee is expected to further strengthen collaboration between the legislative and executive arms in refining the legal and institutional framework governing customs administration in Nigeria.