The Nigeria Customs Service has officially launched its One-Stop-Shop initiative, a flagship reform aimed at slashing cargo clearance time from the long-standing average of 21 days to just 48 hours.
The initiative was introduced in Abuja during a strategic meeting between the NCS management and Customs Area Controllers, according to a statement from the NCS on Sunday. The meeting, chaired by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, focused on driving the service’s modernisation agenda and strengthening leadership roles in implementing reforms across commands.
Adeniyi described the OSS as a transformative step that aligns Nigeria’s customs operations with global best practices and advances the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.
For decades, clearing goods through Nigerian ports has been riddled with delays, inefficiencies, and bureaucracy. On average, importers and exporters faced clearance times stretching up to 21 days, a situation that increased costs, discouraged investors, and hampered Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Recognising these challenges, the Federal Government has been pushing for reforms that will modernise trade processes and align with the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The OSS initiative marks a significant step in this direction.
Under the new framework, all customs units will collaborate on flagged declarations, eliminating multiple checks that previously caused bottlenecks. Importantly, consignments cleared under the OSS will not be subject to re-interception, ensuring predictability and reducing costs for traders.
Adeniyi explained that the reform is designed to “sanitise operations, cut duplication of efforts, and restore confidence in customs procedures.”
“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,” he said.
While highlighting the role of technology in customs processes, Adeniyi noted that digital systems alone cannot drive reform. He stressed the value of physical engagement and coordination among officers.
“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.
The CGC disclosed that the OSS would first be piloted at Nigeria’s busiest ports—Apapa, Tincan Island, and Onne—before being scaled up nationwide. The reform, he added, is backed by the NCS Act 2023 and fully aligned with the WTO TFA, giving it both legal and institutional support.
“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 declared. Customs Area Controllers at the meeting pledged their full commitment to the initiative. They described the OSS as timely and necessary, saying it would reposition the service for greater efficiency and credibility in global trade facilitation.
They further assured the CGC of their readiness to implement the reform at their respective commands and to work in synergy toward achieving the 48-hour clearance target.
The Abuja meeting also provided a platform to review the Service’s accountability framework. A key feature is a new central dashboard that tracks clearance times, interventions, and stakeholder satisfaction. This tool will serve as a performance-monitoring mechanism to ensure transparency and sustained improvement.
Trade experts stated that if fully implemented, the OSS could transform Nigeria’s ports into more competitive hubs, cut business costs, and boost investor confidence. By reducing clearance times to 48 hours, Nigeria will be closer to matching international benchmarks, enhancing its ability to attract cargo traffic that often diverts to neighbouring countries.
For importers and exporters, the reform promises reduced demurrage costs, faster turnaround times, and more predictable supply chains—all critical to boosting Nigeria’s participation in regional and global trade.
