By Nkechi Eze
In a major step towards aligning Nigeria’s trade facilitation procedures with global standards, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced its transition from the existing Fast Track Scheme to the internationally recognised Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme. The transition, which takes effect immediately, is rooted in the World Customs Organisation’s (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and supported by Sections 108 to 111 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
According to an official statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, the move reflects the NCS’s sustained commitment to improving efficiency, security, and predictability in Nigeria’s import and export procedures.
The AEO Programme, as explained by the Customs spokesperson, is a globally benchmarked initiative that provides accredited traders who meet specific compliance, financial, and security criteria with priority benefits such as pre-arrival clearance, reduced physical inspection, accelerated release processes, and possible mutual recognition by other customs administrations. The programme aims to enhance trust between Customs and the trading community, while ensuring cargo integrity and fostering transparency in trade operations.
Consequently, the current Fast Track Scheme, which has offered facilitation incentives to selected importers, will be formally discontinued by 31 December 2025. All current beneficiaries of the scheme have been directed to commence their migration to the AEO Compliance Programme by submitting applications through the dedicated portal: aeo.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng. Only those companies that successfully meet the criteria and gain approval under the new AEO Programme will continue to enjoy the trade facilitation benefits previously associated with the Fast Track Scheme.
As part of its sensitisation strategy, the NCS will host a comprehensive Stakeholders Engagement Forum on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Bon Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos. The forum is expected to convene a wide spectrum of trade stakeholders including importers, exporters, terminal operators, logistics companies, and licensed customs agents. The event will serve as a platform for participants to gain detailed insights into the objectives, advantages, eligibility criteria, and application processes of the AEO Programme. It will also provide an opportunity for direct engagement with NCS officers responsible for overseeing the programme’s implementation.
The Nigeria Customs Service has urged all eligible operators to embrace the transition, noting that the AEO Programme offers participants a sustainable competitive advantage in a fast-evolving global trade environment. “While the Service continues to prioritise compliance-driven facilitation, secure trade practices, and the modernisation of customs procedures in line with global trends,” the statement noted, “it remains committed to improving Nigeria’s ranking on the global trade index, securing supply chains, and fostering a transparent and efficient cargo clearance ecosystem that benefits both government and legitimate businesses.”
