The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a fully paperless port environment as part of broader efforts to modernise cargo clearance and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the commitment on Friday, March 6, 2026, while receiving the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, during a high-level strategic meeting at Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi said the collaboration between the two institutions is aimed at dismantling bureaucratic bottlenecks by integrating advanced technology into cargo clearance processes, thereby repositioning Nigeria as a more competitive hub for international trade.
He noted that the Service has institutionalised regular engagements with stakeholder groups such as the American Business Council and other trade associations to address operational concerns and strengthen cooperation within the port ecosystem.
According to him, the consultations provide an opportunity for the Service to identify operational challenges and obtain direct feedback from businesses that interact with Customs at the nation’s ports.
The CGC also disclosed that the Service, in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO), recently conducted a Time Release Study (TRS) using Tin Can Island Port as a case study to assess the time and cost involved in conducting business at Nigerian ports.
He explained that the study involved key port stakeholders, including shipping companies, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority, licensed customs agents and financial institutions. Its findings were compiled in a report that was 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 guiding some of the reforms we are implementing,” Adeniyi said.
On the issue of 24-hour port operations, the Customs boss noted that the success of such an initiative requires the participation of all operators within the 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 the Service is advancing plans to create a fully paperless customs environment, noting that most core processes—including pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment and release communication—have already been digitised.
He, however, observed that delays still occur where some operators continue to rely on physical documentation, an issue the Service plans to address in the coming months.
The CGC further highlighted ongoing investments in scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce reliance on physical cargo examination.
He added that development partners such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization have continued to encourage Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection technology in line with global best practices.
Earlier in her remarks, PEBEC Director-General 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 by strengthening collaboration and removing bottlenecks that affect the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
Audu disclosed that as part of the programme, 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 and consulting with regulators and private-sector stakeholders.
“The exercise enabled us to identify key operational challenges affecting port efficiency and 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 enhance 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 information for operational planning at the ports.
According to her, effective use of such information would enable the Service to deploy officers more 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,” she said.
Adebakin also expressed the Service’s readiness to address operational issues raised through the PEBEC reporting platform, noting that sustained collaboration between the two institutions remains essential for improving port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s business environment.
The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade also reiterated the effectiveness 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 aimed at achieving the Federal Government’s goal of improved trade efficiency in Nigeria.
