The Nigeria Customs Service,NCS in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, has launched a strategic reform agenda aimed at improving port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
The initiative was unveiled at a three-day operational workshop held in Apapa on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, with the theme, “Customs Leadership in Port Efficiency, Inspection Reform and Clearance Timeline.”
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, outlined a five-pillar strategy focused on joint inspections, risk-based cargo clearance, optimisation of scanning infrastructure, enforcement of service timelines, and enhanced inter-agency coordination.
According to him, the Service is shifting its focus from policy formulation to effective implementation.
“This workshop is about closing the distance between knowing and doing. The Service must now focus on translating established best practices into consistent operational outcomes,” Adeniyi said.
He emphasised the transition to intelligence-led cargo processing, noting that investments in digital platforms and scanning systems must deliver faster and more transparent clearance processes for traders.
To ensure accountability, Adeniyi disclosed that the workshop would produce a reform execution matrix to be actively monitored, adding that he would personally track progress reports to ensure compliance.
In her remarks, the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, stressed the need for risk-based, data-driven inspection systems to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of doing business.
“We must move from inspecting everything to inspecting the right thing,” she said, noting that transparent and efficient border processes are critical to Nigeria’s trade growth.
Earlier, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the evolving mandate of the Service places it at the centre of trade facilitation and economic development, requiring improved operational efficiency across all commands.
As part of the engagement, the delegation also visited the National Single Window facility, where they met with the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, and other stakeholders to assess ongoing progress and address operational gaps.
The reform initiative is expected to enhance cargo clearance timelines, reduce bottlenecks at the ports, and create a more business-friendly environment for traders operating in Nigeria.
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