Nigeria Customs Begins Stakeholder Consultations on Review of Licensing Renewal Fees for Agents
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened high-level consultations with key industry stakeholders over its proposed review of licensing renewal fees for Licensed Customs Agents, a move aimed at strengthening professionalism and boosting regulatory efficiency in the freight forwarding sector.
The engagement, which took place at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, 7 August 2025, brought together executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), and members of the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC). It marked the first in a series of sessions to be held ahead of the planned implementation of the new fee regime.
According to the NCS, the review is in line with its statutory mandate under Sections 103 to 107 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and forms part of broader reforms to modernise operations and improve service delivery.
Officials said the initiative is designed to reflect prevailing economic conditions, including fluctuations in the exchange rate, while ensuring that only compliant, competent, and integrity-driven agents remain in the system.
“The licensing of Customs Agents is vital to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s cargo clearance process,” the Service noted. “This reform will promote accountability, streamline operations, and enhance service quality across the sector.”
The revised licensing framework, scheduled to take effect from January 2026, is expected to deliver a more transparent, predictable, and efficient regime for legitimate operators and the trading public.
Agents who meet the compliance standards under the new structure will enjoy incentives such as faster processing timelines, improved communication channels with Customs officers, and greater integration with upgraded digital platforms.
The NCS assured stakeholders that the consultations will be inclusive, with feedback from industry associations, individual operators, and relevant government agencies carefully considered before final decisions are made.
Reaffirming its commitment to fairness, transparency, and a secure trading environment, the Service said the overhaul is a critical step towards repositioning Nigeria’s border management system to meet the demands of evolving global trade.
The statement was signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs.
