The Nigerian Customs Service has launched the automation of its excise registry, marking a significant step toward modernizing the country’s trade processes. According to spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, the Automated Excise Register System (ERS) is now live at three major excise facilities across Nigeria.
The pilot phase of the ERS, conducted between July and August 2025, took place at British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) PLC in Oyo State, International Tobacco Company (ITC) Limited in Kwara State, and Leaf Tobacco & Commodities Nigeria Ltd in Kaduna State. These factories were selected for their strategic importance to Nigeria’s excise sector and their capacity to provide a strong foundation for a nationwide rollout. During the pilot, the ERS achieved notable successes, including a 75 % efficiency score during user acceptance testing at BATN, successful integration of production and reporting systems, and strengthened collaboration between the Customs Service and factory management teams.
With live operations now underway, all excise‑related transactions at the three factories will be managed exclusively through the ERS. The system will record production figures, compute excise duties, and generate statutory reports, reducing reliance on manual documentation, eliminating data inconsistencies, and enhancing transparency across the excise value chain.
Insights and lessons from the pilot will guide the nationwide rollout, which will extend to other excise‑regulated industries such as beverages, spirits, and additional manufacturing segments. The Customs Service has called on industry operators and stakeholders to embrace the reform, provide constructive feedback, and support the development of a more robust and transparent excise regime. This initiative aims to foster compliance, improve operational efficiency, and ensure sustainable revenue growth for the Federal Government.
The launch of the ERS is a central pillar of the Nigeria Customs Service’s broader Trade Modernisation Project, which seeks to create a more accountable and technology‑driven excise administration framework.
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