By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced high-level consultations with key industry stakeholders as part of plans to review licensing renewal fees for Licensed Customs Agents, in line with its statutory mandate under Sections 103 to 107 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The move, according to the Service, is in furtherance of its ongoing reforms to strengthen professionalism, improve regulatory efficiency, and modernise operations within the freight forwarding sector.
In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Abudullahi Maiwada, the development was announced during a stakeholder engagement held at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, 7 August 2025. The meeting brought together executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), and the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC). It was the first in a series of consultative sessions that will precede the planned implementation.
The NCS underscored that the licensing of Customs Agents is a critical pillar in safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s cargo clearance process. The proposed review, it explained, is intended to reflect prevailing economic realities, including the impact of current exchange rates, address operational demands, and ensure that only agents who meet the Service’s compliance, competence, and integrity requirements are allowed to operate.
Maiwada noted that the initiative forms part of broader modernisation efforts aimed at repositioning the NCS to meet the evolving demands of international trade and border management. He stressed that the new framework will be designed to promote accountability, streamline licensing processes, and enhance service delivery in the sector.
The planned licensing structure, which is expected to take effect from January 2026 after the conclusion of stakeholder consultations, is envisaged to create a more transparent, predictable, and efficient regime for the freight forwarding industry. According to the Service, agents who comply with the new requirements will enjoy premium facilitation measures, including faster processing timelines, improved communication channels with Customs officers, and greater integration with upgraded digital platforms.
“These compliance-driven incentives are designed to reward professionalism and adherence to ethical standards while discouraging sharp practices that undermine trade facilitation,” the statement said.
The NCS reassured industry players of its commitment to an inclusive, fair, and transparent process, noting that feedback from associations, individual operators, and relevant government agencies will be carefully evaluated before the review is finalised. The Service emphasised its determination to foster a secure, competitive, and efficient trading environment that benefits legitimate operators and the wider Nigerian economy.
