The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has explained that the push for 24-hour cargo clearance at Nigerian ports previously failed because key operators across the logistics chain “were not fully integrated into the system”.
Speaking during a meeting with the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, in Abuja on Friday, Adeniyi said Customs had once deployed officers to support round-the-clock port operations. However, the effort faltered because other critical stakeholders, including banks and shipping companies were not aligned with the arrangement.
He noted that successful 24-hour port operations require seamless coordination among all participants in the cargo clearance process, not just Customs personnel.
Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service is now working closely with PEBEC to accelerate the digitalisation of port operations, part of broader reforms aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
According to him, the Service is committed to establishing a fully paperless port system by expanding digital processes across cargo clearance procedures.
He explained that Customs has institutionalised regular engagements with trade groups, including the American Business Council and other industry associations, to identify operational challenges and strengthen cooperation within the port ecosystem.
Adeniyi also revealed that the Service recently conducted a Time Release Study in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation to scientifically measure the time and cost involved in cargo clearance at Nigerian ports, using Tin Can Island Port as a case study.
The study involved major stakeholders such as 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.
According to Adeniyi, the exercise was designed to ensure the results reflected real operational conditions and to generate practical insights for ongoing reforms within the Service.
He added that while several concerns raised by stakeholders have already been addressed, others will guide future improvements in port procedures.
The Customs boss noted that several core processes have already been digitised, including pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment and release communication.
He added that the Service is investing in scanning technology and upgrading its ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce the need for physical cargo examination.
According to Adeniyi, development partners such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation have encouraged Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection technologies in line with global best practices.
Earlier, PEBEC Director-General Zahrah Audu said the council had launched a 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme to address operational challenges highlighted in its Business Facilitation Compliance Report released in November 2025.
She explained that the initiative is aimed at improving efficiency across business-facing government agencies by strengthening collaboration to remove obstacles affecting the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
As part of the programme, PEBEC carried out a three-day operational assessment at Lagos ports in partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority, observing cargo-handling procedures from vessel arrival to cargo exit while consulting regulators and private sector operators.
Audu said the exercise identified several issues affecting port efficiency, including the need for stronger coordination among regulatory agencies during vessel boarding, improved cargo inspection processes and wider adoption of digital technology.
Also speaking at the meeting, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said vessel arrival schedules already provide sufficient information for effective operational planning at the ports.
She explained that better use of such data would allow Customs to deploy personnel more strategically rather than keeping officers stationed at terminals while waiting for vessels to arrive.
According to Adebakin, the idea of 24-hour port operations should focus on smarter deployment of personnel based on vessel schedules rather than simply extending working hours.
She added that the NCS remains ready to address operational issues reported through the PEBEC platform, emphasising that sustained collaboration between both institutions is essential for improving port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s business environment.