The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to building a fully paperless port environment as part of efforts to improve trade efficiency and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Adeniyi made this known while receiving the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, during a strategic meeting at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
The engagement focused on strengthening collaboration between both institutions to accelerate digital reforms in Nigeria’s port system and improve the ease of doing business.
According to the CGC, the Customs Service has institutionalised regular consultations with key stakeholders, including the American Business Council and other trade associations, to identify operational challenges and receive direct feedback from businesses operating within the port ecosystem.
He disclosed that the Service recently conducted a Time Release Study (TRS) in collaboration with the World Customs Organization, using Tin Can Island Port in Lagos as a case study.
The study involved shipping companies, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority, licensed customs agents and financial institutions, with findings published in a report launched on January 26, 2026.
“We deliberately involved every segment of the port community so that the findings would reflect the real operational environment. The report has already provided valuable insights guiding our ongoing reforms,” Adeniyi said.
He noted that while some issues raised by stakeholders have been addressed, others would continue to shape future reforms within the Service.
On the proposed 24-hour port operations, the Customs boss said success depends on the full participation of all actors in the logistics chain, including banks, shipping companies and terminal operators.
Adeniyi also revealed that most core Customs processes, such as pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment and release communication, have already been digitised, adding that remaining delays are largely linked to operators still relying on physical documentation.
He added that the Service is investing in scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce reliance on physical cargo examination.
Earlier, PEBEC Director-General Zahrah Audu said the Council is implementing a 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme aimed at addressing operational challenges identified in its Business Facilitation Compliance Report released in November 2025.
According to her, the initiative seeks to improve efficiency across business-facing government agencies through stronger inter-agency collaboration.
As part of the programme, PEBEC conducted a three-day operational assessment at Lagos ports in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority to observe cargo-handling processes and consult stakeholders across the port value chain.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said vessel arrival schedules already provide adequate data for operational planning, adding that smarter personnel deployment based on such schedules is key to effective 24-hour port operations.
The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade further highlighted several trade facilitation tools introduced by the Service, including the Authorised Economic Operator programme, Advance Ruling system and the One-Stop-Shop initiative, all designed to speed up cargo clearance and improve trade efficiency in Nigeria.