Customs, PEBEC unveil reform plan to fix port delays

The Nigeria Customs Service has partnered with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to launch a new reform agenda aimed at improving port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.

The initiative was unveiled during a three-day operational workshop held in Apapa, Lagos, bringing together key stakeholders in the country’s trade and logistics ecosystem. The workshop, themed around port efficiency, inspection reforms, and clearance timelines, signals a shift from policy discussions to actual execution.

Speaking at the event, Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi said the focus is now on delivering measurable outcomes rather than designing new frameworks. According to him, the goal is to close the long-standing gap between policy formulation and real-world implementation.

Five-pillar strategy targets port bottlenecks

At the heart of the reform is a five-pillar strategy designed to tackle inefficiencies that have historically slowed down cargo movement at Nigerian ports.

Adeniyi outlined the pillars to include joint cargo inspections, risk-based clearance systems, improved use of scanning infrastructure, strict enforcement of service timelines, and better coordination among government agencies operating at the ports.

He emphasised a transition toward intelligence-led cargo processing, noting that investments in digital platforms and scanning systems must translate into faster, more transparent clearance processes for traders.

The Customs boss also revealed that the workshop would produce a reform execution matrix to track implementation progress. He stressed that the matrix would be actively monitored, with leadership directly involved in ensuring compliance and accountability among officers.

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Meanwhile, PEBEC Director-General Zahrah Mustapha-Audu highlighted the importance of adopting data-driven inspection models. She noted that moving away from blanket inspections toward targeted checks would significantly reduce delays and lower the cost of doing business in Nigeria.

Push for coordination and accountability

The reform agenda also places strong emphasis on inter-agency collaboration, a long-standing challenge in Nigeria’s port operations.

Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Niagwan noted that Customs’ evolving mandate now extends beyond revenue collection to include trade facilitation and economic growth. As such, operational efficiency must be consistent across all commands.

As part of the broader engagement, the Customs and PEBEC delegation visited the National Single Window facility, where they met with Zacch Adedeji and other stakeholders to assess ongoing progress and identify operational gaps.

The reform push comes amid growing pressure to improve Nigeria’s port competitiveness, with businesses frequently citing delays, high costs, and bureaucratic bottlenecks as major obstacles to trade.

By focusing on execution, transparency, and coordination, authorities say the new agenda could mark a turning point in how goods move through Nigeria’s ports, if fully implemented.