The Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, has unveiled a results-driven reform agenda aimed at enhancing port operations and strengthening Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
The initiative was announced at a three-day operational workshop held in Apapa, Lagos, themed “Customs Leadership in Port Efficiency, Inspection Reform and Clearance Timeline.” The programme is designed to address longstanding bottlenecks in cargo clearance and improve overall efficiency at the nation’s ports.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, outlined a five-pillar strategy focusing on joint inspections, risk-based cargo clearance, optimisation of scanning infrastructure, enforcement of service timelines, and improved inter-agency coordination. He emphasised that the Service is shifting from policy formulation to effective execution.
According to Adeniyi, the goal is to bridge the gap between established best practices and actual operational outcomes, ensuring that reforms translate into tangible improvements for traders and stakeholders. He also highlighted the transition to intelligence-led cargo processing, driven by investments in digital platforms and scanning systems to enhance transparency and speed.
To ensure accountability, Adeniyi disclosed that the workshop would produce a reform implementation matrix to be actively monitored, with progress reports tracked at the highest level. He urged officers to demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and consistency in executing the new framework.
In her remarks, the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, stressed the importance of adopting data-driven and risk-based inspection systems. She noted that focusing on targeted inspections rather than blanket checks would significantly reduce delays and lower the cost of doing business.
Mustapha-Audu added that efficient and transparent border processes are essential to improving Nigeria’s global trade position and attracting investment.
The joint initiative reflects ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to streamline port operations, reduce inefficiencies, and create a more business-friendly environment for importers and exporters.
