Importers and port users could soon enjoy markedly faster cargo clearance as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a new “Green Channel” at the Lekki Deep Sea Port, aimed at cutting red tape, easing congestion and lowering the cost of doing business.
Launched on Wednesday by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the initiative is being hailed as a potential game-changer for operations at one of Nigeria’s busiest maritime gateways.
Under the new system, containers are transferred directly from vessels into a dedicated Customs-controlled zone, where they are digitally tracked from discharge to exit. The process eliminates delays linked to stacking and routine physical examinations.
“This intervention moves containers straight from the vessel to a designated access point, with full tracking throughout the process,” Adeniyi said at the launch.
The Green Channel establishes a streamlined corridor with minimal bureaucratic hurdles, enabling compliant importers to benefit from faster processing and shorter turnaround times.
Lengthy stacking and examination procedures have long slowed cargo movement at major Nigerian ports, inflating demurrage costs and frustrating businesses. The NCS says the new model tackles these inefficiencies through technology and stronger coordination with stakeholders.
According to Adeniyi, the scheme — introduced by the Lekki Deep Sea Port and approved by NCS management — forms part of a broader trade facilitation strategy built on trust and compliance.
“What we have done is the result of the trust we have invested in our stakeholders and the confidence we have that they will act in the spirit of compliance and trade facilitation,” he said.
Beyond easing operational pressures, the Customs chief noted that the reform aligns with Nigeria’s ambition to create a more competitive trading environment. By cutting clearance times and associated costs, the Green Channel is expected to boost supply chain efficiency, enhance Nigeria’s appeal as a trade hub and strengthen revenue generation.
Industry observers say that if effectively implemented, the initiative could signal a shift from congestion-driven delays to a technology-led, trust-based port system designed to reward compliance and accelerate commerce.