By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) have intensified collaboration aimed at accelerating digital transformation and eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks in Nigeria’s port operations.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to establishing a fully paperless port environment during a strategic meeting with the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, held on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi said the initiative is part of ongoing reforms to modernise cargo clearance processes and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade through the deployment of advanced digital systems.
According to the Customs boss, the Service has institutionalised regular consultations with key stakeholders, including the American Business Council and other trade associations, to identify operational challenges and improve collaboration within the port ecosystem.
“Such consultations allow the Service to identify operational bottlenecks and obtain direct feedback from businesses that interact with Customs at the nation’s ports,” Adeniyi said.
He further revealed that the Service recently carried out a Time Release Study in collaboration with the World Customs Organization, using the Tin Can Island Port as a case study.
The study, which involved shipping companies, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority, licensed customs agents and financial institutions, examined the time and cost of cargo clearance procedures at Nigerian ports. Its findings were compiled into a report publicly launched on January 26, 2026.
Adeniyi noted that the exercise was deliberately designed to reflect the real operational environment of the ports by involving all segments of the port community.
“The report has already provided valuable insights that are guiding some of the reforms we are implementing,” he said, adding that while some issues raised by stakeholders have already been addressed, others will shape future reform measures.
On the proposed 24-hour port operations, Adeniyi explained that the success of such an initiative would require full integration across the logistics chain, including banks, shipping companies and terminal operators.
“We once deployed officers to support round-the-clock port operations, but the effort faced challenges because other critical operators such as banks, shipping companies and terminal operators were not fully integrated into the arrangement,” he explained.
He added that most core Customs processes, including pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment and release communication have already been digitised, noting that remaining delays are often linked to operators still relying on physical documentation.
The Comptroller-General also highlighted ongoing investments in scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce dependence on physical cargo examinations.
According to him, international development partners including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization have encouraged Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection technologies in line with global best practices.
Earlier, the PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Audu, said the Council had launched a 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme to address operational issues identified in its Business Facilitation Compliance Report released in November 2025.
She explained that the programme seeks to improve efficiency across business-facing Ministries, Departments and Agencies through closer collaboration aimed at removing operational bottlenecks affecting the ease of doing business in the country.
As part of the initiative, PEBEC conducted a three-day operational assessment at Lagos ports in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority, during which officials observed cargo-handling processes from vessel arrival to cargo exit and consulted widely with regulators and private sector stakeholders.
According to Audu, the exercise identified several operational challenges, including the need for improved coordination among regulatory agencies during vessel boarding, better synchronisation of cargo inspections and increased deployment of technology in port operations.
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 effective operational planning.
She explained that smarter deployment of personnel based on vessel schedules would enhance efficiency rather than simply extending working hours at the ports.
“The concept of 24-hour port operations should focus on smarter deployment of personnel based on vessel schedules, not merely extending working hours,” she said.
The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade also reaffirmed the effectiveness of trade facilitation tools introduced by the Service to accelerate cargo clearance for trusted traders. These include the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling Systems and the One-Stop-Shop initiative aimed at supporting the Federal Government’s trade efficiency agenda.
Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration to strengthen port efficiency, improve trade facilitation and create a more business-friendly environment for investors.
