The Nigeria Customs Service and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) have strengthened collaboration to accelerate the digital transformation of Nigeria’s port operations and eliminate bureaucratic delays that hinder trade.
Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to building a fully paperless port environment during a strategic meeting with PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Audu, at Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi said the initiative is aimed at dismantling long-standing administrative bottlenecks by deploying advanced technology across cargo clearance processes, a move expected to reposition Nigeria as a more competitive hub for global trade.
According to him, the Customs Service has institutionalised regular engagements with key stakeholders, including the American Business Council Nigeria and other trade associations, to address operational challenges and strengthen cooperation within the trade ecosystem.
“Such consultations allow the Service to identify operational bottlenecks and obtain direct feedback from businesses that interact with Customs at the nation’s ports,” Adeniyi said.
The CGC disclosed that the Service recently conducted a comprehensive Time Release Study in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation, using Tin Can Island Port as a case study.
The study assessed the time and cost involved in cargo clearance at Nigerian ports and involved multiple stakeholders, including shipping companies, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority, licensed customs agents and financial institutions.
Adeniyi said the findings, which were publicly launched on January 26, 2026, are already guiding ongoing reforms within the Service.
“We deliberately involved every segment of the port community so the findings would reflect the real operational environment”, he said.
On the issue of round-the-clock port operations, Adeniyi explained that successful 24-hour operations require full integration across the entire logistics chain.
“We once deployed officers to support round-the-clock port operations, but the initiative faced challenges because key operators such as banks, shipping companies and terminal operators were not fully integrated”, he said.
He added that most core Customs processes — including pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment and release communication — have already been digitised as part of efforts to establish a paperless environment.
“Where delays still occur, they are often linked to operators who continue to rely on physical documentation. That is an area we intend to address in the coming months”, he noted.
The CGC also highlighted ongoing investments in cargo scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce reliance on physical inspections. Development partners such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organisation have encouraged Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection systems in line with global best practices.
In her remarks, Audu said PEBEC has launched a 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme to tackle operational challenges identified in its Business Facilitation Compliance Report released in November 2025.
She explained that the programme is designed to improve efficiency across government agencies that interact with businesses by strengthening collaboration and removing barriers affecting the ease of doing business.
As part of the initiative, PEBEC conducted a three-day operational assessment at Lagos ports alongside 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 to develop practical recommendations for improvement,”, Audu said.
She noted that the assessment highlighted the need for stronger joint vessel boarding by regulatory agencies, improved coordination of cargo inspections and wider adoption of technology in port operations.
Also speaking, Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said vessel arrival schedules already provide adequate information for planning port operations.
According to her, effective use of such data would enable Customs to deploy personnel more strategically rather than maintaining officers at terminals while waiting for vessels to arrive.
“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.
She also reaffirmed the Service’s readiness to address operational concerns raised through the PEBEC reporting platform, stressing that sustained collaboration between both institutions remains key to improving port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s business environment.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade reiterated the effectiveness of several trade facilitation tools introduced by the Service, including the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling Systems and One-Stop-Shop platforms aimed at expediting cargo clearance for trusted traders.