In a move aimed at boosting transparency and efficiency in public financial management, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a high-level capacity-building programme focused on deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to strengthen revenue generation, remittances, and reconciliation processes.
The training, held on Monday, 13 April 2026, at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel, convened senior Customs officers, technology experts, and members of legislative oversight committees.
The presence of lawmakers alongside Customs officials underscored deepening collaboration between the Service and the National Assembly to enhance accountability and integrate modern technological solutions into public administration.
Speaking at the event, Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to leveraging innovation to improve financial transparency and operational effectiveness.
“We are united in our resolve to ensure transparency in public accounting. Technology continues to evolve and plays an important role in strengthening our operations. It has also helped us better understand patterns in international trade”, he said.
Adeniyi highlighted the vast potential of AI in transforming Customs operations, noting that the Service operates within a complex national and global trade ecosystem.
“We want to reap the benefits of Artificial Intelligence collectively. I encourage participants to actively engage the facilitators, ask questions, and maximise the opportunities presented by this training”, he added.
In her welcome address, Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Kikelomo Adeola, described the initiative as both timely and strategic.
“This training reflects our commitment to national development. Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a present-day tool we must embrace to strengthen our systems”, she said.
Adeola explained that the programme is designed to bridge existing gaps in revenue management and equip officers with the skills needed to deploy AI tools in safeguarding public funds.
She also commended the participation of legislative stakeholders, noting that it reflects a shared commitment to transparency and accountability.
“This synergy is vital. I encourage participants to engage actively, ask relevant questions, and exchange ideas that will enhance the success of this initiative”, she added.
Delivering a goodwill message, Chairman of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, praised the NCS for its reform-driven approach and openness to innovation.
“Customs is a global institution and plays a critical role in shaping Nigeria’s economic image. I commend the Comptroller General for the progress recorded so far”, he said.
Salam described the training as a critical intervention, noting that the adoption of AI within Nigeria’s public sector remains limited.
“We must continue to build capacity because the effectiveness of any system ultimately depends on the people who operate it”, he added.
Similarly, Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Ahmed Aliyu, called for sustained collaboration in building resilient, future-ready systems.
“All hands must be on deck. We must build systems that will endure and continue to serve the nation for years to come”, he said, while applauding the Service’s ongoing reforms.
The programme also featured a technical session by AI expert, Bamidele Oyedeji, who outlined how AI can enhance trade facilitation, improve risk management, and drive operational efficiency within Customs administrations.
Overall, the initiative signals the Nigeria Customs Service’s growing determination to harness emerging technologies to strengthen revenue assurance, improve transparency, and deliver more efficient services across the trade value chain.