The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) have shifted focus to strict enforcement of service timelines and reduction of cargo clearance delays as part of a renewed drive to improve efficiency at the nation’s seaports.

The renewed push formed the crux of discussions at a three-day operational workshop held in Apapa, Lagos, where stakeholders emphasised the need to eliminate procedural bottlenecks that have long hindered trade facilitation.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the Service was committed to ensuring that cargo clearance processes become faster, predictable and transparent through measurable performance benchmarks.

Adeniyi noted that beyond policy formulation, the Service was prioritising implementation discipline, stressing that all port commands would be required to comply with standardised clearance timelines.

“We are moving from commitments to measurable actions. Our goal is to ensure that delays are minimised and that port users can rely on a more predictable system,” he said.

He explained that the reform agenda includes coordinated joint inspections involving relevant government agencies, a move aimed at reducing multiple checks that often lead to delays and increased costs for importers.

The Customs boss further disclosed that the adoption of risk-based cargo profiling would enable faster processing of low-risk consignments, while high-risk shipments would be subjected to stricter scrutiny.

In her remarks, the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, stressed that inefficiencies at the ports have direct implications for the cost of goods and overall economic productivity.

She said the Council would intensify monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with agreed service timelines across agencies operating at the ports.

According to her, “delays in cargo clearance not only affect businesses but also undermine Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.”

Stakeholders at the workshop also identified poor coordination among agencies and over-reliance on physical inspections as key factors contributing to congestion at the ports.

To address these challenges, the reform framework promotes the deployment of non-intrusive inspection technologies and digital platforms to streamline processes and reduce human interference.

Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the success of the initiative would depend on sustained collaboration among all port stakeholders.

She added that the Service would align its operations with international best practices to enhance trade facilitation and revenue generation.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen the ease of doing business and reposition Nigeria’s ports as efficient gateways for trade and investment.