BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Seme Area Command, on Wednesday said that it has commenced the full operationalisation of the Simplified Declaration for Passenger Baggage Import.
This is contained in a statement released today by John Tunde Ayagbalo, Superintendent of Customs, Public Relations Officer, Seme Area Command, that the deployment is in line with the Service’s commitment to digital innovation, trade facilitation and improved passenger clearance processes.
The statement noted that the initiative is designed to simplify the declaration and assessment of passenger baggage, reduce clearance time, enhance transparency and facilitate the movement of legitimate travelers and cross-border traders through the Seme border corridor.
The statement reads further that “The simplified system enables passengers to initiate baggage declarations through mobile devices or complete the process at designated digital kiosks at the Command. Standardised and pre-programmed assessment tables are applied to declared personal goods, enabling the system to calculate applicable duties and generate receipts upon payment automatically. The deployment is aimed at reducing manual processes and discretionary assessment, while providing passengers with a transparent, predictable and efficient process for clearing dutiable goods.
“Since the commencement of the deployment, the Seme Area Command has recorded an average passenger baggage clearance turnaround time of under five minutes, reflecting the impact of digital processing on passenger facilitation. Within the first few days of implementation, the Command has generated ₦10,340,260.02 in revenue from passenger baggage declarations alone, with the automated process providing a direct and transparent channel for the collection of duties payable to the Federation Account.
The deployment of the simplified baggage declaration system is being implemented 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, the Command continues to identify and intercept attempts to conceal commercial quantities of restricted or prohibited goods as passenger baggage.
The Command reiterates that the deployment of the Simplified Declaration for Passenger Baggage forms part of its broader efforts to modernise customs operations, improve the passenger experience and strengthen revenue collection through transparent and technology-driven processes. The Command will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and sister agencies operating at the Seme border corridor to ensure the smooth movement of legitimate passengers and goods, while maintaining effective controls against smuggling and other forms of cross-border illicit trade.
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, reaffirms the commitment of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to deploying technology and innovative processes that promote trade facilitation, transparency, accountability and compliance at the border.
The Command encouraged passengers, cross-border traders and other members of the trading community to make use of the simplified declaration system and comply with applicable customs requirements, while assuring the public that legitimate travel and commerce will continue to receive the necessary facilitation within the framework of national security and economic protection.
