The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has commenced full implementation of its Simplified Declaration for Passenger Baggage Import system as part of efforts to enhance border trade facilitation, transparency and revenue collection.
The digital initiative is designed to simplify the declaration and assessment of passenger baggage, reduce clearance time and facilitate the movement of legitimate passengers and cross-border traders through the Seme border corridor.
Under the new system, passengers can initiate baggage declarations using their mobile devices or complete the process at designated digital kiosks within the Command. Standardised assessment tables are applied to declared personal goods, allowing the system to automatically calculate applicable duties and generate receipts after payment.
According to the Command, the automated process is reducing manual procedures and discretionary assessments while providing passengers with a more transparent and predictable method of clearing dutiable goods.
Since its deployment, the Command said passenger baggage clearance turnaround time has averaged under five minutes. It also recorded ₦10.34 million in revenue from passenger baggage declarations within the first few days of implementation.
The Command explained that the digital system is being operated alongside strengthened enforcement measures to ensure that trade facilitation does not compromise border security or compliance with customs laws.
Through enhanced risk management and intelligence-led controls, Customs said it continues to identify and intercept attempts to conceal commercial quantities of restricted or prohibited goods as passenger baggage.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, said the initiative reflects the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to deploying technology and innovative processes that promote transparency, accountability, trade facilitation and compliance.
Kaila encouraged passengers, cross-border traders and other members of the trading community to utilise the simplified declaration platform and comply with applicable customs requirements.
He assured the public that the Command would continue to facilitate legitimate travel and commerce while maintaining effective controls against smuggling and other forms of illicit cross-border trade.
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