Nigeria Customs Service Launches Automated Excise Register System


The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has kicked off a major leap in its trade modernization journey with the official launch of the Automated Excise Register System (ERS)  a digital platform designed to transform the way excise duties are managed in Nigeria.

The new system has already gone live in three pioneer factories:

British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) PLC, Oyo State

International Tobacco Company Ltd, Kwara State

Leaf Tobacco & Commodities Nigeria Ltd, Kaduna State

According to the NCS spokesperson, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, the ERS will take over all excise-related processes in these factories  from recording production figures to computing duties and generating reports. The goal is to cut down manual paperwork, eliminate errors, and make excise operations more transparent and efficient.


For years, excise administration in Nigeria has relied heavily on manual documentation, which often slowed processes, created loopholes, and made monitoring less effective. With automation, businesses and regulators can expect:

Less paperwork and faster processes

Accurate, real-time data on production and duties

Better transparency and compliance

Improved government revenue collection



Before its rollout, the ERS underwent a pilot phase between July and August 2025. During this test, British American Tobacco Nigeria scored an impressive 75% efficiency during User Acceptance Testing (UAT), while all three factories reported smooth integration of their production and reporting systems.

These early wins are now serving as the blueprint for a nationwide deployment.


The ERS is part of the wider NCS Trade Modernisation Project, which aims to digitalize and streamline Nigeria’s customs processes. Beyond tobacco, the system will soon cover other excise-regulated industries such as beverages, spirits, and manufacturing.

With this step, Nigeria is edging closer to a more transparent, technology-driven excise regime , one that benefits businesses, government, and ultimately the economy.

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