Nigeria Customs Launches One-Stop Cargo Clearance Hub to Cut Delay to 48 Hours

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) cargo clearance initiative designed to reduce clearance time from 21 days to just 48 hours, in a major push to fast-track trade facilitation and efficiency at the nation’s ports.

The reform was unveiled during a high-level management meeting in Abuja, led by Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, with Customs Area Controllers and senior officers in attendance. Adeniyi said the initiative is intended to streamline operations, eliminate duplication, and enhance predictability for businesses engaged in import and export.

Positioned as part of the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda, the OSS is also aligned with international standards to boost trade competitiveness and ease long-standing port bottlenecks.

Describing the new platform as a “transformative shift,” Adeniyi noted: “The OSS initiative will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency, and make our operations more business-friendly.”

While highlighting the role of technology, Adeniyi stressed the value of in-person collaboration. “As much as technology has helped us, it has its limits. There are moments when physical presence coming together under one roof adds weight and value to our deliberations. Meetings like this strengthen our unity of purpose and ensure we speak with one voice,” he said.

Under the OSS model, all Customs units will jointly process flagged declarations, removing repetitive checks and reducing delays. Consignments cleared through the system will not be subject to re-interception, a move expected to cut costs and improve trade flow.

The Abuja meeting also reviewed the Service’s accountability framework, including a new central dashboard for tracking clearance times, interventions, and stakeholder feedback.

Adeniyi announced that the OSS will first be piloted at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne Ports before being expanded nationwide. He emphasized that the reform is backed by the NCS Act 2023 and fully aligns with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly Customs Service,” Adeniyi affirmed.

Customs Area Controllers at the meeting pledged their support, calling the initiative timely and crucial for repositioning the Service. They committed to driving the reform within their commands and working in synergy to achieve the 48-hour clearance benchmark.

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