Seme Customs Goes Digital, Cuts Baggage Clearance Time to Under Five Minutes

The Nigeria Customs Service has launched a digital baggage declaration system at the Seme Area Command, with officials reporting an average clearance turnaround time of less than five minutes.

The Simplified Baggage Import Declaration System is part of the Service’s broader push to modernise customs operations, facilitate legitimate trade and make passenger clearance faster and more transparent.

Passengers can now submit baggage declarations through their mobile devices or use digital kiosks provided at the Command.

Once goods are declared, the system applies standardised assessment tables, automatically calculates the applicable duties and produces receipts after payment.

The Customs Service said the automated process is designed to remove manual delays and reduce discretionary assessments, giving legitimate travellers and cross-border traders a more predictable clearance procedure.

Tunde Ayagbalo, Public Relations Officer of the Seme Area Command, said the system had already produced notable results.

He said: “Within the first few days alone, revenue generated from passenger baggage declarations stood at N10.3 million with the automated system providing a direct and transparent channel for remitting duties to the Federation Account.”

The Customs spokesperson added that the digital system was introduced alongside enhanced enforcement measures.

According to him, strengthened risk management and intelligence-led controls remain in place to detect attempts to move commercial quantities of restricted or prohibited goods under the guise of passenger baggage.

Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, Area Controller of Seme Command, said the new technology was intended to strike a balance between facilitating legitimate movement and protecting government revenue and national security.

“This deployment is part of our broader modernization agenda. We are determined to improve the passenger experience while safeguarding revenue and national security. Technology is the bridge between facilitation and enforcement,” Kaila said.

The Command said the new system underscores the Customs Service’s commitment to transparency and accountability while improving the efficiency of passenger clearance at the Seme border.

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