Feso Jason
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to human-centred digital transformation, stressing that innovation must be guided by ethics, leadership, and institutional accountability.
Adeniyi made this known while delivering a keynote address at the 4th Biennial International Conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology of a Russian university.
The conference, themed “Disruptive Technology: Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy,” brought together academics, policymakers, technology experts, and researchers to examine the growing role of digital innovation and artificial intelligence in governance, education, trade, and economic development.
In his address, Adeniyi emphasised that while digital technologies are rapidly transforming global systems, the real challenge lies in how institutions deploy these tools responsibly. He noted that the future of the digital economy depends not only on artificial intelligence but also on human judgment, ethical leadership, and strong institutional frameworks.
“The digital age is, in the end, a human story, and the real test of our generation is not how powerful our machines become, but how wisely our societies choose to use them,” he said.
He explained that disruptive technologies such as digital payments, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence have already reshaped global economic and governance systems, adding that societies are no longer preparing for disruption but are already operating within it.
According to him, government institutions must ensure that innovation enhances public trust, improves transparency, and strengthens operational efficiency, rather than weakening accountability structures.
Drawing from ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service, Adeniyi highlighted the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System as a major milestone in the agency’s digital transformation drive. He said the platform has significantly improved trade facilitation, cargo processing, and collaboration among relevant government agencies.
The Customs boss disclosed that the system generated over N230 billion at the PTML Command within its first eight months of operation. He added that cargo clearance timelines for compliant traders have been reduced to less than eight hours, marking a significant improvement in operational efficiency.
He stressed that the real value of technology lies in the collaboration between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, rather than competition between the two. According to him, technology is most effective when guided by a clear institutional purpose and supported by strong ethical standards.
Adeniyi further noted that while artificial intelligence can enhance efficiency, risk management, and decision-making processes, human expertise and leadership remain critical to effective governance and enforcement.
“Technology changes processes; leadership and expertise still deliver the results,” he added.
The Customs chief also called for stronger collaboration between universities, research institutions, and public agencies, noting that academic institutions must move beyond theoretical knowledge to become active contributors to policy development and innovation.
He identified key areas where academia can support customs modernisation efforts, including digital compliance systems, artificial intelligence-driven risk targeting, communication strategies to build public trust, and the governance of cross-border data flows.
Adeniyi also urged African countries to develop digital governance frameworks that reflect their unique realities, legal systems, and development priorities. He stressed that technological advancement must remain accountable to citizens and aligned with national interests.
On the sidelines of the conference, he engaged with heads of government agencies, scholars, and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for collaboration in digital research, innovation, community development, and capacity building.
The conference served as a platform for critical discussions on how emerging technologies can be harnessed to drive inclusive growth, strengthen institutions, and position countries to compete effectively in the evolving global digital economy.