Customs, PEBEC Launch Reform Plan to Improve Port Operations

Customs, PEBEC Launch Reform Plan to Improve Port Operations

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), has introduced a new reform agenda aimed at boosting efficiency at the nation’s ports and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.

The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday at a three-day operational workshop held in Apapa, bringing together key stakeholders in the maritime and trade sectors to address longstanding bottlenecks in cargo clearance and port operations.

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, outlined a five-point strategy centred on joint cargo inspections, risk-based clearance procedures, improved use of scanning infrastructure, strict adherence to service timelines, and enhanced coordination among government agencies.

According to him, the Service is shifting its focus from policy formulation to practical implementation.

“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 said.

Adeniyi stressed the need for intelligence-driven cargo processing, noting that investments in digital systems and scanning technology must lead to quicker and more transparent clearance processes for importers and exporters.

He also disclosed that the workshop would produce a reform implementation matrix to track progress, assuring that compliance would be closely monitored.

“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,” he stated, urging officers to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in their duties.

In her remarks, the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, emphasised the need for data-driven inspection processes to reduce delays and costs at the ports.

“We must move from inspecting everything to inspecting the right thing,” she said, adding that efficient and transparent border procedures are essential for improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

Earlier, Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, noted that the evolving role of the Service places it at the heart of trade facilitation and economic growth, stressing that operational efficiency must be evident across all commands.

As part of the programme, the Customs and PEBEC delegation also visited the National Single Window facility, where they held discussions with the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, and other stakeholders to review progress and address existing operational challenges.