NCS Pushes Tech-Driven Border Security, Global Data Cooperation at 2026 WCO Technology Conference
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its commitment to technology-driven border management and structured international cooperation as the 2026 World Customs Organisation (WCO) Technology Conference and Exhibition opened on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), United Arab Emirates.
The three-day conference, organised by the WCO under the theme “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation,” convenes Customs administrations, policymakers, technology providers and industry leaders from around the world to explore how innovation can enhance border security while facilitating legitimate trade.
Nigeria’s participation underscores the Service’s ongoing trade modernisation agenda and its alignment with global best practices, particularly in digitalisation, data exchange and intelligence-led enforcement.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Customs Agility in a Complex World: Securing and Facilitating Trade through Innovation,” the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi—who also serves as Chairperson of the WCO Council, highlighted the critical role of international collaboration in addressing emerging cross-border threats.
“Our experience has shown that robust engagement with international organisations such as INTERPOL, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Universal Postal Union creates opportunities for deeper cooperation, especially in tracking criminal networks, protecting intellectual property and managing emerging trade risks,” Adeniyi said.
He identified cargo diversion along transit corridors as a global concern requiring coordinated responses, noting that no single Customs administration can tackle the challenge in isolation.
“Diversion of goods in transit is not a challenge unique to Nigeria; it is a global issue that requires coordinated Customs-to-Customs cooperation. Through existing WCO instruments and mutual administrative assistance frameworks, Customs administrations can more effectively investigate offences and ensure that goods reach their intended destinations,” he stated.
The CGC also commended innovative solutions showcased at the conference, particularly a digital humanitarian corridor developed by the United Arab Emirates, describing it as a practical tool for improving the movement of relief consignments.
“I saw a tool today developed by the UAE that creates a digital humanitarian corridor. If scaled across the global Customs community, it can significantly enhance our ability to move humanitarian goods efficiently within a fully digitalised environment,” he said.
According to Adeniyi, the global Customs response to evolving border challenges has been shaped by coordinated standards and practical tools developed over time, with technology remaining central to these efforts. However, he stressed that organisational agility goes beyond deploying systems and platforms.
“Technology has been central to the work of the WCO and Customs administrations worldwide, and the progress recorded by UAE Customs across various operational areas demonstrates what is achievable when innovation is fully embraced,” he noted.
He added that sustainable modernisation must be backed by deliberate investment in human capital, warning that Customs administrations across WCO member states are facing generational transitions as experienced officers exit the system. Building the skills and capacity of the next generation of officers, he said, is critical to maximising the benefits of technology and sustaining long-term institutional effectiveness.
Also representing Nigeria at the conference, the General Manager of the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), Ahmed Ogunsola, participated in a panel session titled “Above the Clouds: Enhancing Customs Security through Cloud Computing and Data Analytics,” where discussions centred on leveraging cloud infrastructure and advanced analytics to strengthen risk management, improve compliance and enhance Customs security.
In a related session, TMP’s software development lead, Nabil Mustapha, delivered a technical presentation on the evolution of national trade systems, focusing on secure architectures, seamless user experience and beneficial outcomes.
At the exhibition, TMP hosted a booth showcasing Nigeria’s Customs modernisation efforts, including the indigenous, custom-built B’odogwu application and other technology solutions designed to integrate stakeholders across the trade ecosystem while easing operational processes for Customs officers.
The opening ceremony featured remarks by senior UAE officials, including the Chairman of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi, who highlighted the role of artificial intelligence, data analytics and smart monitoring systems in achieving secure and seamless trade.
The Director-General of Customs and Port Security, Ahmed Abdullah bin Lahaj Al Falasi, outlined future pillars of Customs development anchored on technology, human capacity and inter-agency integration.
In his address, the WCO Secretary-General, Ian Saunders, emphasised that Customs administrations remain central to global economic and social prosperity, stressing that innovation is essential for managing evolving border threats, securing supply chains and facilitating legitimate trade.
Beyond the exhibition and panel sessions, the NCS and TMP teams actively participated in the conference Hackathon, collaborating with global Customs and technology experts to develop practical, innovation-led responses to emerging trade and border challenges.
The exercise highlighted Nigeria’s growing capacity to contribute to global Customs technology solutions, rather than solely adopt them.
The active participation of NCS and TMP at the 2026 WCO Technology Conference reflects a sustained resolve to modernise operations, strengthen international partnerships and deploy innovation to achieve efficient, secure and globally aligned trade facilitation.
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