The Nigeria Customs Service on Monday rolled out an ambitious plan to deploy artificial intelligence to strengthen revenue generation, improve remittances, and reduce audit queries.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day training on AI-powered revenue generation, remittance and reconciliation in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the Service was moving from a reactive culture of responding to legislative summons to a proactive partnership with oversight institutions.

This was as the service deepened engagement with lawmakers and fiscal authorities, reshaping its long-standing oversight relationship with the National Assembly.

Adeniyi noted that while legislative summons had historically defined interactions between the Service and lawmakers, the new approach was anchored on partnership and shared responsibility.

Adeniyi said, “We all know that in a presidential system of government, the power to oversee the executive lies squarely with the parliament, and this is exercised through committees such as the Public Accounts Committee in both chambers. What we have been used to over the years are summons asking us to explain our revenue, our processes, and our operations.”

According to him, whether through summons or invitations, the ultimate goal remains the same: ensuring transparency in public accounts and enforcing fiscal discipline.

“These summons are binding under the Constitution, and we have no option but to comply. Sometimes, if you are invited for a particular time and you arrive late, you may even be threatened with enforcement.

“But today, we are deliberately flipping that narrative. It is now the Customs that has invited the distinguished committees to engage with us, and we are glad that they responded enthusiastically.

“Whether it is by summons or by invitation, the objective remains the same, we are united in ensuring transparency in public accounts, achieving fiscal discipline, and bringing inefficiencies in revenue generation to account,” he said.

Adeniyi stressed that the adoption of artificial intelligence would significantly improve Customs operations, manage complex trade systems, detect anomalies, particularly in managing trade volumes and detecting leakages.

He explained that technology had already transformed several aspects of the Service’s work, but AI would take efficiency to a new level.

“Over the last 20 years, technology has evolved and has played a very critical role in our operations. Today, we have risk management systems that help us manage the huge volume of trade that we handle, and through these systems, we are able to analyse patterns and trends in international trade.

“The World Customs Organisation has also introduced artificial intelligence into the harmonised system, enabling better classification of goods through machine learning. We have also deployed AI in our scanning systems, where AI-enabled scanners can guide image analysts to predict the nature of items being imported,” he said.

The Customs boss stressed that revenue generation and remittance involved multiple stakeholders beyond the Service, including commercial banks, auditors, and government agencies.

“This is very important in blocking leakages and ensuring compliance. However, revenue generation, remittance, and reconciliation involve a long value chain that includes banks, platform providers, auditors, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Federation Account Allocation Committee, and the National Assembly.

“We are only one part of that chain, and while we are taking this leap forward, we encourage other stakeholders to adopt similar innovations so that collectively we can maximise the benefits of AI,” he added, urging officers to take the training seriously to reduce future audit queries.

In his remarks, Chairman of the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, said the engagement reflected a growing maturity in the relationship between the legislature and revenue-generating agencies.

He dismissed the notion that parliamentary oversight was primarily punitive, explaining that its core objective was to strengthen governance and ensure compliance with established laws.

He said, “Contrary to public perception, legislative oversight was not designed to witch-hunt agencies but to strengthen governance systems.

“Whenever we invite ministries, departments, or agencies, the default thinking is that parliament is on a fault-finding mission, that we are simply looking for errors in the books. But that is not correct. What we are truly interested in is the functionality of the Nigerian state and the degree of compliance with the laws that we have all agreed to abide by. ”

He recalled past engagements with Customs based on audit queries, noting that the frequency of infractions had reduced significantly in recent years.

“When I assumed office as chairman, we reviewed Auditor-General’s reports that raised several issues concerning the Nigeria Customs Service, and we had robust engagements with the Comptroller-General.

“What is important is that we use those processes not just to identify problems but to improve systems. I must say that in the last three years, the Nigeria Customs Service has distinguished itself as reform-minded and open to innovation, which is very commendable,” he said.

Salam further linked the AI initiative to Nigeria’s broader fiscal realities, noting that the country’s growing budget size required stronger revenue performance from agencies like Customs.

He described the training as both timely and strategic.

“As a country, we have passed a national budget running into trillions of naira, and the money must come from somewhere. One of the key agencies we rely on is the Nigeria Customs Service. While the Service has done well in previous years, what we are doing now will ensure even better performance in the years ahead.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer new; it is already transforming sectors globally, from healthcare to logistics. In some parts of the world, AI is used to diagnose diseases and extend life expectancy, while in others it is used to improve operational efficiency and reduce losses. Bringing this into Customs operations is long overdue, and there is no better time than now. However, we must also understand that AI is a tool created by humans, and its effectiveness depends on the commitment of those who use it.

“Training is important, but discipline, dedication, and accountability will ultimately determine whether we achieve the desired results of blocking leakages and improving transparency,” he added, assuring continued legislative support.

Earlier, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Kikelomo Adeola, described the training as a critical milestone in the Service’s reform agenda, noting that AI would transform how public revenue is managed.

She emphasised that the initiative was designed to equip officers and stakeholders with the tools needed to address persistent gaps in revenue processes.

“This training marks a significant step in our collective journey towards strengthening transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public revenue management. The Nigeria Customs Service has always played a pivotal role in revenue generation for the country, but as global trade becomes more complex, it is imperative that we embrace innovative technologies.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer a concept of the future; it is a present-day tool that offers unprecedented opportunities to optimise revenue processes, minimise leakages, improve remittance accuracy, and ensure seamless reconciliation. From automated data analysis to predictive intelligence and real-time reconciliation systems, AI gives us the capability to transform how we manage and safeguard public funds.

“The presence of our oversight committees and key fiscal institutions here today underscores a shared commitment to ensuring that every naira due to the Federation Account is properly accounted for,” she said.

Also speaking, a representative of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Hajiya Ibrahim Mambo, commended the Customs Service for the initiative, describing it as both timely and essential in strengthening fiscal governance.

She noted that the adoption of AI would enhance transparency and improve decision-making across public institutions.

“This initiative is both timely and essential as artificial intelligence continues to enhance efficiency, transparency, and decision-making in public service. We commend the Nigeria Customs Service for taking this step and for bringing together critical stakeholders in revenue oversight and fiscal governance.

“As a Commission, we remain committed to promoting innovation, capacity development, and improved fiscal governance. We encourage participants to take full advantage of this training and ensure that the knowledge gained is translated into practical improvements in our revenue systems,” she said.

The renewed push by Customs to deploy AI comes amid growing pressure on revenue-generating agencies to boost collections and block leakages, as Nigeria grapples with rising fiscal deficits and increasing budgetary demands.

In recent years, the Service has introduced several digital reforms, including automated cargo clearance systems and enhanced risk management frameworks. However, persistent queries and concerns over revenue reconciliation have continued to attract scrutiny from the National Assembly.

The shift from a summons-driven oversight model to a collaborative framework could reduce friction between regulators and operators, while improving compliance and efficiency in public revenue management.

They add that if effectively implemented, AI adoption in Customs operations could significantly improve Nigeria’s non-oil revenue performance and strengthen confidence in public financial systems.

The three-day training is expected to deepen institutional capacity within the Customs Service, while also fostering stronger collaboration among key actors in Nigeria’s revenue ecosystem, as the government intensifies efforts to boost non-oil revenue and improve fiscal discipline. (The PUNCH)

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