CGC Adeniyi hosts PEBEC DG Zahrah Audu in Abuja as both institutions strengthen collaboration to accelerate port digitalisation and improve Nigeria’s business environment.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to establishing a fully paperless port system as part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving trade facilitation and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in global commerce.
Adeniyi made this known on Friday, March 6, 2026, while receiving the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, during a strategic meeting at Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between both institutions to dismantle long-standing bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate the digital transformation of Nigeria’s port operations.
According to Adeniyi, the Service has institutionalised regular consultations with key stakeholder groups, including the American Business Council Nigeria and other trade associations, to address operational challenges and strengthen cooperation within the trade 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,” he said.
The Customs boss also revealed that the Service, in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO), recently conducted a Time Release Study (TRS) using Tin Can Island Port as a case study to scientifically assess the time and cost associated with cargo clearance in Nigerian ports.
The study involved key stakeholders, including shipping companies, terminal operators, the Nigerian Ports Authority, licensed customs agents, and financial institutions. Its findings were compiled in a report publicly launched on January 26, 2026.
“We deliberately involved every segment of the port community in the exercise so that the findings would reflect the real operational environment. The report has already provided valuable insights guiding some of the reforms we are implementing,” Adeniyi explained.
He noted that while some issues raised by stakeholders have already been addressed, others will inform future reforms within the Service.
Speaking on the proposed 24-hour port operations, Adeniyi emphasised that its success depends on full participation across the logistics value chain.
“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 said.
The CGC added that most core Customs processes, including pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment, and release communication, have already been digitised. However, he noted that delays often occur when some operators still rely on manual documentation.
To further strengthen cargo management, Adeniyi disclosed that the Service is investing in advanced scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to enhance risk-based cargo inspections and reduce reliance on physical examination.
He noted that development partners such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization have continued to encourage Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection technology in line with international best practices.
Earlier, PEBEC Director-General Zahrah Audu revealed that the council has launched a 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme to address challenges highlighted in its Business Facilitation Compliance Report released in November 2025.
She explained that the programme seeks to improve operational efficiency across business-facing Ministries, Departments and Agencies by fostering stronger collaboration to eliminate bottlenecks affecting the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
As part of the initiative, PEBEC conducted a three-day operational assessment at Lagos ports in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority, observing cargo-handling processes from vessel arrival to cargo exit and consulting widely with regulators and private-sector stakeholders.
“The exercise enabled us to identify key operational challenges affecting port efficiency and to develop practical recommendations for improvement,” Audu said.
Among the issues identified were the need to strengthen joint vessel boarding by regulatory agencies, improve coordination of cargo inspections, and expand the use of digital 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 information for operational planning.
She noted that effective use of such data would enable the Service to deploy officers more strategically rather than maintaining personnel at terminals awaiting vessel arrivals.
“The concept of 24-hour port operations should focus on smarter deployment of personnel based on vessel schedules, not merely extending working hours,” Adebakin said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade highlighted the effectiveness of several trade facilitation tools introduced by the Service, including the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Advance Ruling System, and One-Stop-Shop, all aimed at accelerating cargo clearance for trusted traders and supporting the Federal Government’s goal of improved trade efficiency.
Leave a Reply