Juliet Ezeh
The Nigeria Customs Service has taken a major step toward modernizing revenue collection with the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as the Controller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declared that technology-driven systems will significantly reduce leakages and improve accountability across Nigeria’s revenue chain.
Speaking at the opening of a high-level training on AI-driven revenue generation, remittance, and reconciliation in Abuja, Adeniyi emphasized that the agency is shifting toward a more transparent, data-driven system that aligns with global best practices.
He noted that AI is no longer a futuristic concept but an operational tool already being deployed within Customs to enhance efficiency and strengthen oversight.
According to him, “We are united in a strong resolve to ensure transparency in public accounting and achieve fiscal discipline,” stressing that technology is central to achieving this objective.
AI to Strengthen Revenue Collection and Accountability
Adeniyi explained that AI-powered systems are already transforming key aspects of Customs operations, including risk management, trade analysis, and cargo inspection.
He revealed that the Service has deployed AI-enabled scanners capable of detecting and predicting the nature of goods, improving accuracy in cargo examination and reducing human interference.
Beyond physical inspections, the Customs boss highlighted the integration of machine learning into tariff classification systems, enabling more precise and efficient decision-making in trade processes.
These innovations, he said, are expected to optimize revenue generation, ensure accurate remittances, and enhance reconciliation processes across the board.
“Technology has evolved over the years and has played a very important role in helping us manage the volume of trade and understand patterns in international transactions,” he added.
Reducing Summons Through Transparency
In a notable remark, Adeniyi pointed to the long-standing oversight role of the National Assembly, particularly the Public Accounts Committees, which regularly summon agencies to explain discrepancies in revenue and spending.
However, he expressed confidence that the adoption of AI would significantly reduce such occurrences.
“What you have been used to over the years are summons… but today, we are flipping that,” he said, noting that improved systems and transparency would minimize accountability gaps.
He emphasized that both the Customs Service and oversight bodies share a common goal of ensuring that every naira due to the federation is properly accounted for.
Collaboration Across Revenue Value Chain
The Controller-General stressed that effective revenue management goes beyond the Customs Service alone, describing it as a multi-stakeholder ecosystem.
He identified key players in the value chain to include commercial banks, platform providers, auditors, and government committees such as the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee.
According to him, the success of AI integration depends on collective participation and capacity building across all stakeholders.
“We are only a part of the entire value chain,” Adeniyi said, urging other actors to adopt similar technological measures to ensure seamless coordination and accountability.
Training to Build AI Capacity
Also speaking at the event, Deputy Comptroller-General Kikelomo Adeola described the training as a strategic move to equip officers with the knowledge and tools required to operate in an AI-driven environment.
She highlighted the transformative potential of AI in automating data analysis, enabling predictive intelligence, and supporting real-time reconciliation systems.
Adeola noted that the training would empower participants to develop innovative, tech-driven solutions to long-standing challenges in revenue management.
“This programme is designed to equip stakeholders with strategic insights needed to implement AI-driven solutions across the revenue value chain,” she said.
She further emphasized the importance of collaboration among oversight bodies, noting that their presence reflects a unified commitment to transparency and fiscal discipline.
Toward a Technology-Driven Revenue System
The three-day training programme is expected to deepen participants’ understanding of AI applications in public finance, with subsequent sessions focusing on practical implementation.
Adeniyi expressed optimism that the initiative would not only enhance operational efficiency within the Customs Service but also strengthen Nigeria’s broader fiscal framework.
He encouraged participants to actively engage with facilitators, ask relevant questions, and contribute ideas that would drive innovation within the system.
With AI now at the center of Customs operations, the agency is positioning itself to lead a new era of transparency, efficiency, and accountability in Nigeria’s revenue administration.
The initiative signals a broader shift toward digital transformation in public sector governance, with the potential to significantly boost government revenue and restore public trust in financial management systems.
