NCS, PEBEC Unveil Bold Reform Agenda to Transform Port Efficiency, Trade Competitiveness
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), has launched an ambitious, results-oriented reform agenda aimed at significantly improving operational efficiency at Nigeria’s ports and strengthening the nation’s global trade competitiveness.
The initiative was formally unveiled at the opening of a three-day operational workshop held in Apapa on Tuesday, 7 April 2026. The workshop, themed “Customs Leadership in Port Efficiency, Inspection Reform and Clearance Timeline,” brought together key stakeholders across the maritime and trade facilitation ecosystem to chart a new course for Nigeria’s port operations.
Delivering the keynote address, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, outlined a comprehensive five-pillar reform strategy designed to tackle longstanding inefficiencies within the system.
The pillars include the implementation of joint inspections, adoption of risk-based cargo clearance procedures, optimisation of scanning infrastructure, strict enforcement of service timelines, and enhanced inter-agency coordination.
Adeniyi emphasised that the focus of the Service has now shifted from policy formulation to execution, noting that the real challenge lies in translating established frameworks into measurable operational outcomes.
“This workshop is about closing the distance between knowing and doing. The Service must now focus on translating established best practices into consistent operational outcomes,” he stated.
He further highlighted the transition towards intelligence-led cargo processing, stressing that ongoing investments in digital platforms and modern scanning technologies must yield tangible improvements in clearance speed, transparency, and overall efficiency for port users.
To ensure accountability and sustained implementation, the Customs boss disclosed that the workshop would culminate in the development of a reform execution matrix, which will be rigorously monitored at the highest levels.
“The reform implementation matrix will not end up in a filing cabinet. It will be actively monitored, and I will personally follow the progress reports. The professionalism, commitment, and integrity that this workshop asks of are qualities you need to acquire and deploy consistently, not selectively,” Adeniyi added.
In her remarks, the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, underscored the critical role of data-driven and risk-based inspection systems in reducing bottlenecks and lowering the cost of doing business in Nigeria.
“We must move from inspecting everything to inspecting the right thing,” she said, stressing that efficient and transparent border management processes are vital to enhancing Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and attracting investment.
Earlier, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, noted that the evolving mandate of the Service places it at the heart of national economic growth and trade facilitation. She emphasised that operational efficiency must be consistently reflected across all commands to achieve the desired impact.
As part of the broader reform engagement, the Customs leadership and PEBEC delegation also conducted an inspection visit to the National Single Window facility. During the visit, they met with the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, alongside other stakeholders, to evaluate ongoing progress and identify operational gaps requiring urgent attention.
The reform agenda signals a decisive push by the Federal Government to modernise port operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and position Nigeria as a more competitive player in global trade, with stakeholders expressing optimism that sustained implementation will yield measurable improvements in cargo clearance timelines and overall ease of doing business.
