By Femi Anamelechi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has achieved a digital milestone with the successful deployment of its pilot Electronic Currency Declaration Form (e-CDF) system at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. This achievement was contained in a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, 2nd May 2025. According to the statement, the pilot phase of the e-CDF platform commenced on 9th April 2025 and was carried out seamlessly, the milestone deployment shows the system’s ability to securely and efficiently capture financial declarations made by inbound and outbound passengers.
At the initial trial period, a total of sixty-nine (69) currency declaration transactions were processed through the system, adding “Outbound declarations accounted for fifty-one (51) transactions, amounting to a total declared value of $1,200,281.22, while inbound declarations stood at eighteen (18) with a total declared value of $177,786.88.”The e-CDF initiative, according to the statement, is part of the Service’s broader digital transformation agenda designed to align with international best practices on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT). “It also aims to enhance transparency, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration through real-time data collection.” The statement added.“The e-CDF system was introduced to promote compliance, improve transparency in currency movement, and ensure a secure platform that supports our border enforcement objectives,” the statement noted.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, was quoted as reaffirming the Service’s commitment to deploying technology in ways that simplify legitimate travel, reinforce Nigeria’s border integrity, and uphold global financial standards. Following the success of the Abuja pilot, the NCS has revealed that plans are already underway to extend the e-CDF system to other international airports and border locations across the country. The Nigeria Customs Service, however, urged stakeholders, travellers, and financial operators to familiarise themselves with the platform and cooperate fully to ensure smooth implementation as the rollout progresses.
