The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to creating a fully paperless port environment as part of broader efforts to modernise cargo clearance processes and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, gave the assurance on Friday, March 6, 2026, during a strategic meeting with the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Audu, at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi said the collaboration between the NCS and PEBEC is aimed at removing longstanding bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerating digital reforms within Nigeria’s port system.
He explained that the Service has institutionalised regular engagements with key stakeholders, including the American Business Council and other trade associations, to address operational concerns and strengthen cooperation within the trade ecosystem.
According to him, such consultations enable the Service to identify bottlenecks and obtain direct feedback from businesses that interact with Customs at the nation’s seaports.
The Comptroller-General also disclosed that the Service recently conducted a Time Release Study (TRS) in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to evaluate the time and cost involved in clearing cargo at Nigerian ports.
Using Tin Can Island Port as a case study, the study involved shipping companies, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority, licensed customs agents and financial institutions. The findings were compiled in a report publicly launched on January 26, 2026.
“We deliberately involved every segment of the port community in the exercise so that the findings would reflect the real operational environment. The report has already provided valuable insights that are guiding some of the reforms we are implementing,” Adeniyi said.
He noted that while some concerns raised by stakeholders have already been addressed, others would continue to inform future reforms within the Service.
Speaking on plans for round-the-clock port operations, Adeniyi said the success of a 24-hour port system would depend on full participation across the entire logistics chain.
“We once deployed officers to support round-the-clock port operations, but the effort faced challenges because other critical operators such as banks, shipping companies and terminal operators were not fully integrated into the arrangement,” he said.
Adeniyi added that most core Customs processes have already been digitised, including pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payments and release communications.
He explained that delays still occur mainly where some operators continue to rely on physical documentation, noting that the Service is working to address such gaps in the coming months.
The Customs boss also highlighted ongoing investments in cargo scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce reliance on physical cargo examinations.
According to him, development partners such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation have encouraged Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection technology in line with global best practices.
Earlier, the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, said the council is implementing a 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme aimed at addressing operational challenges identified in its Business Facilitation Compliance Report released in November 2025.
She explained that the initiative is designed to improve efficiency across business-facing Ministries, Departments and Agencies through closer collaboration and the removal of operational bottlenecks affecting the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
As part of the programme, Audu said PEBEC conducted a three-day operational assessment at Lagos ports in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority, observing cargo-handling processes from vessel arrival to cargo exit while consulting regulators and private-sector stakeholders.
“The exercise enabled us to identify key operational challenges affecting port efficiency and to develop practical recommendations for improvement,” she said.
Among the issues identified were the need to strengthen joint vessel boarding by regulatory agencies, improve coordination of cargo inspections and expand the use of technology in port operations.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said vessel arrival schedules already provide sufficient data for operational planning at the ports.
She noted that effective use of such information would enable the Service to deploy officers strategically rather than maintaining personnel at terminals while awaiting vessel arrivals.
“The concept of 24-hour port operations should focus on smarter deployment of personnel based on vessel schedules, not merely extending working hours,” Adebakin said.
The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade also highlighted the impact of trade facilitation tools introduced by the Service to expedite cargo clearance for trusted traders. These include the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling Systems and the One-Stop-Shop initiative.
She said the initiatives are part of ongoing efforts by the Service to support the Federal Government’s goal of improving trade efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s business environment.
Discover more from Inside Abuja Media
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
