AWC MDA Desk
Apapa, Lagos | April 2026
The Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, has launched a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at improving port efficiency, enhancing trade competitiveness, and accelerating cargo clearance processes across Nigeria’s seaports.
The initiative was unveiled during a three-day strategic workshop held in Apapa, Lagos, bringing together key stakeholders in the maritime and trade sectors.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, emphasized the need for practical implementation of global best practices to achieve consistent and measurable outcomes in port operations.
He noted that the reform agenda prioritizes the adoption of risk-based inspection systems, joint cargo examinations, and the deployment of digital platforms to streamline processes and reduce human bottlenecks.
Also addressing participants, the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, stressed the importance of professionalism, inter-agency collaboration, and strict adherence to operational timelines in achieving the desired reforms.
According to her, a robust monitoring framework—anchored on a reform execution matrix—will be implemented to ensure accountability, transparency, and sustained progress across all participating agencies.
The reform initiative is expected to significantly reduce the cost and time of doing business at Nigerian ports, improve ease of trade, and position Nigeria more competitively in the global market.
Key focus areas of the agenda include enhanced inter-agency coordination, enforcement of standardized timelines for cargo clearance, and the integration of technology-driven solutions to minimize delays and inefficiencies.
Industry stakeholders at the workshop expressed optimism that the reforms, if effectively implemented, would mark a turning point in Nigeria’s port operations, boosting investor confidence and strengthening the nation’s economic outlook.
The collaboration between NCS and PEBEC underscores the Federal Government’s ongoing commitment to creating a more business-friendly environment and unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s trade and logistics sector.
