The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has commenced full implementation of the Simplified Declaration for Passenger Baggage Import System to streamline passenger clearance and improve trade facilitation at the border.
The digital initiative allows passengers to initiate baggage declarations using mobile devices or complete the process through designated digital kiosks at the command.
Under the system, standardized and pre-programmed assessment tables are used to assess declared personal goods, calculate applicable duties and automatically generate receipts after payment.
According to the command, the initiative is designed to reduce manual processes and discretionary assessment while providing passengers with a more transparent, predictable and efficient process for clearing dutiable goods.
The Seme Area Command said it has recorded an average passenger baggage clearance turnaround time of less than five minutes since the deployment of the system.
It also disclosed that the new platform generated ₦10.34 million in revenue from passenger baggage declarations within the first few days of implementation.
The command said the automated process provides a direct and transparent channel for collecting applicable customs duties into the Federation Account.
While promoting faster clearance, the command said it has strengthened enforcement measures to prevent the use of passenger baggage to conceal commercial quantities of restricted or prohibited goods.
It explained that enhanced risk management and intelligence-led controls would continue to be deployed to detect and intercept smuggling attempts along the Seme border corridor.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, said the initiative was consistent with the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to using technology and innovative processes to promote trade facilitation, transparency, accountability and compliance.
Kaila encouraged passengers, cross-border traders and other members of the trading community to use the simplified declaration platform and comply with applicable customs requirements.
He assured legitimate travellers and businesses that the command would continue to facilitate lawful movement of passengers and goods while maintaining effective controls to protect national security and the economy.
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