As part of measures to decongest Seaports and boost transparency, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has unveiled automated system for clearing overtime cargo.
According to the NCS,
consignees can now apply for an additional 90-day extension, as provided by Section 30(1) of the NCSA 2023 after the initial deadline of 30 days of cargo dwell time.
The NCS explained that after this extended period, any uncleared goods will be subject to the new automated disposal process to create space for new imports and prevent subsequent port congestion.
Speaking at the sensitization exercise for stakeholders, including customs brokers, terminal operators, and consignees, in Lagos on Monday, Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, revealed that more than 50% of the daily complaints he receives are related to the management of overtime cargo.
He said, “Our objectives for deploying the system include to facilitate trade, to get imported goods to their owners. And more importantly, we want to manage space so that other imports that are coming can have space in our ports and then they can be cleared in a very swift manner. So this system will be deployed and we will appreciate the feedback that we are going to be getting from our stakeholders.”
Adeniyi stressed that the primary goal is not revenue generation, as revenue from overtime cargo sales accounts for less than 1% of the NCS’s total revenue.
Adeniyi explained that the automation initiative was born out of the need to address the constant delays caused by abandoned consignments and the bureaucratic bottlenecks of clearance extensions. He disclosed that nearly half of the correspondence to his office daily is tied to requests for such extensions.
With the upgraded system, cargo clearance requests will now be processed digitally, cutting out unnecessary paperwork and manual interventions.
“We have created a help desk at the headquarters to prioritise clearance of project cargoes belonging to government agencies,” Adeniyi revealed.
The Customs boss emphasised that the reform is not just about generating revenue but also about strengthening Nigeria’s position in international trade. “Importation is critical to Nigeria’s economic development. Our goal is to ensure that goods reach their rightful owners quickly and efficiently,” he said.
He noted that less than one per cent of cargoes arriving at Nigerian ports in 2024 were classified as overtime, and expressed confidence that the automation system would eliminate the issue entirely.
Adeniyi also pledged that sensitisation sessions would continue across different zones to ensure that stakeholders adapt smoothly to the new process.
He urged shipping companies, terminal operators, and clearing agents to give constructive feedback to aid further improvement.
Highlighting the reasons behind abandoned cargoes, he explained that while some consignments are intentionally left behind, others suffer delays due to poor connectivity and technical issues. The new automation programme, he said, was developed to resolve such barriers.
“This sensitisation is to ensure all stakeholders understand the system and work together for its success.
The Overtime Cargo Automation programme is fully developed and ready for deployment,” Adeniyi stressed.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Isah Umar, said the e-clearance system would streamline operations, boost transparency, and drastically reduce human interference.
He added that the system also strengthens data integrity for both imports and exports.
Umar further explained that the process includes automatic recordkeeping of cargo disposal and harmonised documentation through the Single Goods Declaration (SGD), eliminating duplication of paperwork.
The Zonal Coordinator of Zone ‘A’, Assistant Comptroller-General Muhammed Babadede, praised the Comptroller-General for leading digital reforms, describing NCS as the most technologically advanced Customs administration in West and Central Africa.
