Nigeria Customs Service Launches One-Stop-Shop to Cut Cargo Clearance to 48 Hours
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a sweeping reform aimed at drastically cutting down the time required for cargo clearance at Nigerian ports. Under its new One-Stop-Shop (OSS) initiative, unveiled in Abuja on Thursday, the NCS says it is targeting a reduction in clearance time from an average of 21 days to just 48 hours.
The announcement was made during a meeting between the NCS management and Customs Area Controllers, and later shared in an official statement via the service’s verified X (formerly Twitter) handle. Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi described the initiative as a “transformative shift” that aligns with international best practices and the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda.
Cutting Red Tape in Cargo Clearance
For decades, cargo clearance in Nigeria has been plagued by delays, bureaucracy, and inefficiencies that have raised the cost of doing business in the country. Importers and manufacturers often complain about the bottlenecks created by overlapping checks, duplication of duties across Customs units, and unofficial practices that breed corruption.
Under the OSS framework, the NCS has pledged to consolidate operations so that all Customs units work jointly on flagged declarations. This means that consignments cleared through the scheme will not be subject to re-interception by other units once released. By ensuring one streamlined clearance process, the reform aims to eliminate duplication of efforts, sanitise operations, and restore predictability in procedures.
“This reform will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency, and make our operations more business-friendly,” Adeniyi said while addressing the Controllers.
Leveraging Technology and Physical Oversight
While acknowledging the increasing role of technology in Customs operations worldwide, the CGC stressed that digital tools must be complemented by effective physical engagement.
“As much as technology has helped us, it has its limits. There are moments when physical presence—coming together under one roof—adds weight and value to our deliberations. Meetings like this strengthen our unity of purpose and ensure we speak with one voice,” he noted.
The OSS initiative will deploy a central dashboard that tracks clearance times, interventions, and levels of stakeholder satisfaction. This dashboard is expected to serve as an accountability tool, allowing both Customs officers and business operators to monitor progress and highlight bottlenecks in real time.
By using both digital tracking and on-the-ground oversight, the NCS hopes to build trust among traders while cutting down opportunities for delays and corruption.
Alignment with Global Standards
The Customs chief emphasised that the reform is backed by legal and international frameworks. He pointed to the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which empowers the service to modernise operations, and the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which calls for member countries to streamline and simplify border procedures.
According to Adeniyi, the OSS initiative represents a bold step toward compliance with global trade standards and a signal that Nigeria is serious about making its ports competitive.
“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly Customs Service,” he said.
Pilot Programme at Key Ports
The NCS confirmed that the OSS will first be piloted at Nigeria’s busiest ports—Apapa Port, Tin Can Island Port, and Onne Port—before being rolled out nationwide.
These ports handle the bulk of Nigeria’s imports and exports, making them a logical starting point for the reform. Success at these locations will serve as a benchmark for the eventual expansion of the programme to other Customs commands across the country.
Area Controllers present at the Abuja meeting reportedly pledged their full support for the reform and promised to ensure strict implementation at command level in order to meet the ambitious 48-hour clearance target.
Impact on Importers, Manufacturers, and the Economy
Importers and business operators have long argued that Nigeria’s lengthy cargo clearance process has been a significant barrier to trade. For some, the delays force them to pay additional demurrage charges to terminal operators and shipping lines, which are then passed on to consumers through higher prices.
The OSS reform is therefore expected to cut costs for importers, speed up trade flows, and reduce opportunities for rent-seeking and corruption. In the long run, analysts suggest, it could also improve Nigeria’s ranking in global Ease of Doing Business indexes, particularly in the critical area of trade across borders.
Manufacturers are also likely to benefit, especially given recent concessions announced by the Customs Service. Just days before the OSS announcement, the NCS had exempted raw materials, spare parts, and certain machinery from the four per cent Free on Board (FOB) levy.
That policy, unveiled after a high-level consultation between the NCS and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), was described as a relief measure for critical sectors of the economy struggling under rising costs and currency fluctuations.
The communique, jointly signed by CGC Adewale Adeniyi and MAN President Francis Meshioye, underscored the NCS’s commitment to fostering a more enabling environment for businesses.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the optimism, stakeholders say the success of the OSS will depend on strict enforcement and the ability to overcome entrenched practices. Past attempts at reform in the Customs sector have often faltered due to resistance from vested interests and poor monitoring of implementation.
Experts caution that while the central dashboard and joint-unit framework are promising, there must also be strong disciplinary measures against officers who attempt to bypass the system or reintroduce unnecessary checks. Without such enforcement, the OSS risks being undermined.
Additionally, there will be logistical challenges in ensuring seamless coordination among multiple Customs units working under one roof, particularly in ports already struggling with congestion and infrastructural limitations. The pilot phase at Apapa, Tin Can, and Onne will therefore serve as a crucial test of how well the system can adapt to Nigeria’s unique realities.
Strengthening Transparency and Accountability
To address these concerns, the Customs Service says it will combine technology with transparency measures. By tracking clearance times and interventions through the central dashboard, importers will be able to hold the service accountable. The real-time nature of the dashboard should also make it easier to detect irregularities, such as undue delays or duplicate checks.
Moreover, by committing to a 48-hour clearance target, the Customs Service is effectively setting a performance benchmark against which it can be judged by the business community, civil society, and international partners.
A Broader Reform Agenda
The OSS initiative is part of a broader wave of reforms being championed under Adeniyi’s leadership. Since assuming office, the CGC has repeatedly stressed his vision of building a modern Customs Service that balances revenue collection with trade facilitation and national security.
The recent exemption of manufacturers from the FOB levy, the deployment of new scanning equipment at key ports, and the strengthening of inter-agency collaboration all point toward a reform-minded leadership determined to reposition Customs as a facilitator of trade rather than a barrier.
Conclusion
With the launch of the One-Stop-Shop initiative, the Nigeria Customs Service has taken a bold step toward addressing one of the most persistent complaints of importers, manufacturers, and business operators—the lengthy and unpredictable cargo clearance process.
By consolidating checks, leveraging technology, and pledging transparency, the NCS hopes to transform clearance from a cumbersome 21-day ordeal to a streamlined 48-hour process.
If fully implemented, the reform could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s ports, boost investor confidence, and reduce the cost of doing business in the country. However, its success will hinge on effective enforcement, strong leadership, and the willingness of officers to embrace change.
For now, the business community will be watching closely as the pilot phase begins at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne ports—aware that a truly efficient cargo clearance system could help unlock new opportunities for Nigeria’s economy.
