“The Service is institutionalising the Time Release Study as part of its broader reform agenda to improve cargo clearance and service delivery.
“The Time Release Study allows us to move from assumptions to facts”, – CGC.
The Secretary General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Mr. Ian Saunders, has described Nigeria’s Time Release Study (TRS) as a practical, data-driven reform capable of improving border efficiency, strengthening safety and boosting trade competitiveness across Africa’s trade corridors.
Saunders made the remarks on Monday, 26 January 2026, during the presentation of the TRS Report at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, noting that the study provides Nigeria with “specific and objective insights” into how its border clearance processes operate and where targeted improvements can be delivered.
According to him, the TRS, implemented with the support of the WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, moves beyond policy statements by translating reform ambitions into measurable operational outcomes.
“The findings of this study offer Nigeria a clear opportunity to deliver equally clear improvements that will strengthen both the economy and national safety”, Saunders said.
He explained that the TRS is one of the WCO’s core performance measurement tools, widely deployed by Customs administrations worldwide to improve transparency, predictability and efficiency without compromising security.
While Customs plays a central role in trade facilitation, Saunders stressed that the effective implementation of TRS recommendations requires collaboration among government agencies, the private sector and the wider trading community.
“Trade facilitation is not achieved by policy alone. It is realised through consistent, efficient and sound practices. The Time Release Study shows what is working, what is not, and where leadership and investment are required”, he added.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of State for Finance, Mrs. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the TRS aligns with the federal government’s commitment to data-driven reforms aimed at improving trade efficiency and reducing transaction costs at Nigeria’s ports and borders.
She described the TRS as a strategic policy instrument that enables government to objectively measure performance, identify bottlenecks and strengthen transparency within the trade ecosystem.
“The Time Release Study is not merely a diagnostic exercise; it is a reform tool that supports smarter regulation, evidence-based decision-making and improved coordination across border agencies”, Uzoka-Anite said.
She noted that efficient clearance processes are critical to investor confidence and economic growth, adding that global competitiveness is increasingly defined by speed, certainty and compliance.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for taking the lead in tackling systemic bottlenecks and strengthening trade facilitation, describing the initiative as a reflection of government’s commitment to efficiency across Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
In his remarks, the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, said the Service is institutionalising the Time Release Study as part of its broader reform agenda to improve cargo clearance and service delivery.
He explained that the study generates credible data on cargo dwell time, enabling Customs and partner agencies to identify overlaps, eliminate delays and streamline procedures.
“The Time Release Study allows us to move from assumptions to facts. It tells us exactly where time is lost and where reforms must be focused to achieve measurable improvements”, he said.
He added that the Service remains committed to facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining strict compliance and security standards, stressing that faster clearance must go hand in hand with effective controls.
Similarly, a representative of the United Kingdom High Commission to Nigeria commended the Nigeria Customs Service for adopting WCO trade facilitation tools, particularly the TRS scheme supported through an initiative of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
In the same vein, the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Strategic Research and Policy (SR&P), Mr. Dera Nnadi, noted that the TRS findings will guide operational adjustments, policy refinement and infrastructure planning as the Service works with stakeholders to deliver a more predictable, transparent and efficient trade environment.