Nigerian Ports Overhaul: Customs Launches ‘One-Stop-Shop’ to Slash Cargo Clearance Time to 48 Hours
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a major reform in port operations, launching a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Initiative aimed at dramatically reducing the time it takes to clear cargo from an average of 21 days to just 48 hours.
The transformative initiative, unveiled by Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi during a management meeting in Abuja on September 23, is a direct response to longstanding industry complaints about bureaucracy, delays, and high transaction costs at Nigeria’s ports.
OSS: A Game-Changer for Trade Facilitation
The One-Stop-Shop is designed to be a “transformative shift” that directly supports the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda and aligns with global standards, particularly the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
Key Features of the New Framework:
Joint Declaration Handling: Under the OSS, all Customs units will now jointly process flagged declarations. This key change eliminates the need for multiple, sequential checks by different units, effectively dismantling the bureaucratic bottlenecks that fuel delays.
End of Re-Interception: Crucially, consignments cleared under the OSS framework will not be subject to re-interception. This move is expected to boost trader confidence, lower logistics costs, and provide the much-needed predictability for importers and exporters.
Accountability and Transparency: The service has also introduced a strengthened accountability framework, featuring a central dashboard to track critical performance indicators, including clearance timelines, interventions, and stakeholder satisfaction.
The OSS initiative will be piloted immediately at Nigeria’s three busiest ports: Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne Ports, before a planned nationwide rollout.
A Broader Digital Transformation
The OSS is the latest in a series of technology-driven reforms launched by the Nigeria Customs Service to modernize its operations and curb corruption:
Automated Overtime E-Clearance: Earlier in September, the NCS launched an automated overtime e-clearance system. This digital platform aims to tackle persistent port congestion by processing long-standing, abandoned cargo more efficiently, minimizing manual interference, and cutting opportunities for fraudulent activities.
Legal Backing: The Customs Comptroller-General confirmed that the new One-Stop-Shop reform is fully backed by the NCS Act 2023, demonstrating a commitment to institutionalizing modern, transparent procedures.
Comptroller-General Adeniyi emphasized that while technology is vital, direct engagement with officers remains essential to ensure collaboration and unified purpose, stating the goal is to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly Customs Service.
The Area Controllers present at the Abuja meeting reportedly pledged their full support, calling the initiative timely and essential for the nation’s economic repositioning.
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