Customs to fix trade leakages with tech

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is repositioning itself not merely as a revenue agency but as a strategic maritime trade enabler, using technology and international data partnerships to tackle cargo diversion, port inefficiencies and cross-border risk—issues that continue to cost the shipping and logistics industry billions annually.

This new posture came into focus as the 2026 World Customs Organisation (WCO) Technology Conference and Exhibition opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in the United Arab Emirates, placing Nigeria at the centre of global conversations on trade innovation, supply-chain security and port competitiveness.

NCS, led by Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, used the platform to push a clear message to global maritime stakeholders: fixing Africa’s trade bottlenecks now depends less on physical inspections and more on shared data, digital systems and coordinated Customs-to-Customs enforcement across transit corridors.

Speaking during a high-level panel, Adeniyi framed cargo diversion, a persistent challenge along West and Central African shipping routes, as a systemic risk to maritime trade rather than a national problem.

“Diversion of goods in transit is not a challenge unique to Nigeria; it is a global issue that requires coordinated Customs-to-Customs cooperation. Through existing WCO instruments and mutual administrative assistance frameworks, Customs administrations can more effectively investigate offences and ensure that goods reach their intended destinations,” he said.

For shipping lines, port operators and cargo owners, the implication is significant: better data exchange between Customs authorities could reduce cargo delays, leakages and disputes that often arise between ports of loading, transhipment hubs and final destinations.

Adeniyi, who also chairs the WCO Council, stressed that Nigeria’s Customs modernisation agenda is increasingly anchored on intelligence-led enforcement rather than traditional border checks, a shift designed to align Nigerian seaports with global trade lanes and digital supply chains.

“Our experience has shown that robust engagement with international organisations such as INTERPOL, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Universal Postal Union creates opportunities for deeper cooperation, especially in tracking criminal networks, protecting intellectual property and managing emerging trade risks,” he said.

That collaboration focus resonates strongly within maritime trade circles, where counterfeit goods, illicit transhipment and documentation fraud continue to distort port operations and undermine investor confidence.

Beyond enforcement, the conference also highlighted how technology can speed up legitimate cargo movement, an issue critical to Nigeria’s ambition to become a regional maritime hub. Adeniyi pointed to a UAE-developed digital humanitarian corridor as an example of how fully digital Customs environments can move time-sensitive cargo seamlessly.

“I saw a tool today developed by the UAE that creates a digital humanitarian corridor. If scaled across the global Customs community, it can significantly enhance our ability to move humanitarian goods efficiently within a fully digitalised environment,” he said.

Nigeria’s participation extended beyond policy advocacy. The Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) team showcased homegrown digital platforms aimed at simplifying port processes and reducing human contact points that often slow cargo clearance.

At the exhibition, TMP highlighted the indigenous B’odogwu application, a custom-built platform designed to integrate all trade ecosystem players—Customs officers, shipping agents, terminal operators and regulators—into a single digital workflow.

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Industry observers note that such platforms could be transformative for Nigeria’s ports if fully adopted, particularly as regional competitors invest aggressively in smart port infrastructure.

TMP General Manager Ahmed Ogunsola reinforced this technology-first approach during a panel on cloud computing and data analytics, where discussions centred on improving risk management and compliance without disrupting cargo flow. Meanwhile, TMP’s software development lead, Nabil Mustapha, traced the evolution of national trade systems around secure architectures, seamless user experience and measurable outcomes.

However, Adeniyi cautioned that technology alone will not deliver maritime trade efficiency without skilled personnel to run and adapt these systems.

“Sustainable modernisation must be supported by deliberate investment in human capital renewal,” he said, noting that many Customs administrations face generational transitions as experienced officers exit the system.

The Abu Dhabi conference also drew support from UAE officials and WCO leadership, who underscored the central role of Customs in securing global supply chains amid rising geopolitical and cyber risks.