Customs Targets Transparency, Efficiency With AI-Powered Revenue Systems

The Nigeria Customs Service on Monday said it is intensifying efforts to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and accountability in revenue generation, remittance and management through the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered systems.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this in Abuja at the opening of a three-day training on AI-powered revenue generation, remittances, and reconciliation.

He said the service is leveraging technology to improve operational effectiveness and address challenges associated with growing trade volumes and complex financial systems.

Adeniyi noted that risk management systems already deployed by Customs have enhanced its capacity to process large volumes of trade while identifying patterns and trends in international commerce.

He added that AI integration is further strengthening tariff classification processes under the harmonised system, enabling more accurate and efficient decision-making. “Technology has played a very important role in our operations. With AI, we can better understand trade patterns and improve classification accuracy,” he said.

The Customs boss explained that AI-enabled scanners are also being used in non-intrusive inspections to help officers detect and predict the nature of goods more efficiently. According to him, the adoption of AI across the revenue value chain will enhance remittance processes, improve reconciliation accuracy, and minimise leakages.

He urged officers to maximise the training to build capacity for operating in an increasingly digital environment.
Adeniyi also linked improved systems to reduced audit queries, noting that enhanced transparency would limit summons from oversight institutions.
“We want to ensure better accountability so that engagements with oversight bodies become more seamless,” he said.

Also, chairman of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, commended the Customs Service for embracing reforms and innovation. He described the agency as one of the most progressive government institutions, given its global relevance and critical role in revenue generation.

Salam said the introduction of AI tools is vital to blocking revenue leakages and strengthening accountability, especially in the context of Nigeria’s rising fiscal demands. “With a national budget approaching N60 trillion, the government relies significantly on Customs for revenue,” he said.

He noted that while the service has recorded strong performance in recent years, the adoption of AI would further enhance its capacity to deliver improved outcomes.

The lawmaker stressed the need for globally compliant systems, adding that Customs operations play a key role in shaping Nigeria’s international image.
He urged the service to sustain its reform momentum, noting that institutional recognition and improved accountability remain key measures of success.

Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Kikelomo Adeola, said the initiative marks a significant step toward improving public revenue management.

She said AI offers opportunities to optimise revenue processes, reduce leakages, and ensure seamless reconciliation.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept of the future. It is a present-day tool that can transform how we manage public funds,” Adeola said.

She explained that the training would equip participants with knowledge of automated data analysis, predictive intelligence, and real-time reconciliation systems.
Adeola encouraged participants to actively engage in the sessions, describing the programme as a platform for innovation and practical solutions.

The training is expected to continue at the Customs Training College, where officers will receive deeper technical exposure to AI-driven systems.

Stakeholders said the initiative underscores the Service’s commitment to modernisation and its broader role in supporting national economic development through improved revenue performance.