By Nkechi Eze
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has unveiled a new Green Channel initiative at the Lekki Deep Sea Port as part of strategic efforts to simplify cargo clearance procedures, reduce delays, and improve operational efficiency for port users.
The launch, held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, represents a significant milestone in the reform agenda of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), aimed at enhancing trade facilitation through technology-driven solutions and stronger stakeholder collaboration.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Comptroller-General explained that the initiative was introduced by the Lekki Deep Sea Port and subsequently approved by NCS Management to tackle persistent operational challenges, particularly those related to container stacking and physical examinations at major ports, which often slow down cargo processing.
“This particular intervention helps to move containers right from the vessel into a dedicated place where customers can have access. And between the time the container moves from the vessel to this particular place, it is tracked,” Adeniyi stated.
He explained that the Green Channel is structured to provide a seamless cargo movement process through a dedicated corridor with minimal bureaucratic bottlenecks. The system is designed to accelerate turnaround time for importers, freight forwarders, and other port stakeholders, while maintaining necessary regulatory oversight.
According to the CGC, the initiative reflects the growing level of trust and cooperation between the Nigeria Customs Service and its stakeholders. He stressed that the success of the Green Channel would depend heavily on sustained compliance and responsible participation by port users.
“What we have done today is a product of the kind of trust that we have invested in our stakeholders and the confidence that we also have in them, that they would do this in the spirit of compliance and trade facilitation,” he said.
Beyond improving port operations, Adeniyi noted that the Green Channel aligns with Nigeria’s broader economic objective of building a more competitive and investor-friendly trade environment. By reducing cargo dwell time and cutting down the cost of doing business, the initiative is expected to enhance efficiency across the maritime sector and contribute positively to national revenue generation.
The unveiling underscores the Service’s ongoing commitment to modernising customs processes, leveraging technology, and fostering partnerships that position Nigeria’s ports as efficient gateways for international trade.
