The Nigeria Customs Service has unveiled plans to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance revenue generation, improve remittance processes, and curb leakages across its operations.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day training on AI-powered revenue systems in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the initiative marks a shift toward greater efficiency and transparency within the Service.
Adeniyi explained that the agency is transitioning from a reactive approach—often characterised by responding to legislative summons—to a more proactive engagement with oversight institutions, particularly the National Assembly of Nigeria. He noted that the new strategy is built on partnership and shared responsibility in ensuring fiscal discipline.
According to him, while legislative oversight remains a constitutional requirement, the Customs Service is now taking the lead in fostering collaboration with lawmakers to strengthen accountability in public finance.
He highlighted that AI would significantly improve the agency’s ability to manage complex trade systems, detect irregularities, and analyse patterns in international trade. The technology is expected to play a key role in identifying revenue leakages and enhancing compliance.
“Over the years, technology has supported our operations, particularly in risk management and trade analysis. With AI, we are moving to a higher level of precision, especially in detecting anomalies and improving classification of goods,” Adeniyi said.
He added that AI-powered scanners and machine learning tools are already being integrated into Customs processes to assist officers in identifying the nature of imported goods more accurately.
The Customs boss also emphasized that revenue generation and remittance involve multiple stakeholders, including commercial banks, auditors, and government agencies such as the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the Federation Account Allocation Committee. He urged all parties within the value chain to adopt similar technological innovations to maximise efficiency.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, described the engagement as a sign of growing maturity between the legislature and revenue-generating agencies.
He clarified that parliamentary oversight is not intended as a punitive measure but as a mechanism to strengthen governance and ensure compliance with established laws.
Salam also noted that audit-related issues involving the Customs Service have reduced significantly in recent years, attributing the improvement to better systems and increased accountability.
The initiative signals a broader effort by the Nigeria Customs Service to modernise its operations and align with global best practices in revenue management and trade facilitation.
