The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has generated N10.34 million from passenger baggage declarations within the first few days of implementing its Simplified Declaration for Passenger Baggage system.
The Command also recorded an average passenger baggage clearance turnaround time of less than five minutes following the deployment of the digital system.
The initiative, according to the Command, is aimed at simplifying baggage declaration and assessment, reducing clearance time and improving transparency for passengers and cross-border traders using the Seme border corridor.
Under the new system, passengers can initiate baggage declarations through their mobile devices or complete the process at designated digital kiosks at the Command.
The system uses standardised and pre-programmed assessment tables to calculate applicable duties on declared personal goods and automatically generates receipts after payment.
The Command said the deployment would reduce manual processes and discretionary assessment while providing passengers with a transparent and predictable process for clearing dutiable goods.
The N10,340,260.02 generated from passenger baggage declarations is to be paid into the Federation Account through the automated process, the Command said.
It added that the digital system was being implemented alongside strengthened enforcement measures to ensure that trade facilitation did not compromise border security or compliance with customs laws.
Through enhanced risk management and intelligence-led controls, the Command said it continued 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, reaffirmed the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to deploying technology and innovative processes to promote trade facilitation, transparency, accountability and compliance at the border.
Kaila urged passengers, cross-border traders and other members of the trading community to use the simplified declaration system and comply with applicable customs requirements.
He assured that legitimate travel and commerce would continue to receive necessary facilitation while the Command maintains effective controls against smuggling and other forms of cross-border illicit trade.