PEBEC Ranks Customs Among Best Agencies on Trade Facilitation

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emerged as one of the country’s top-performing government agencies in trade facilitation after meeting all compliance standards in the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Compliance Assessment conducted by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

The assessment, released on Friday, recognised the Customs Service for significant improvements in the speed, efficiency and responsiveness of its trade-related services, placing it among the highest-performing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) evaluated.

Speaking on the report, the Director-General of Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Zahrah Audu, said the Nigeria Customs Service satisfied all the prescribed compliance requirements under the Business Facilitation Act.

“The Nigeria Customs Service stood out by meeting all the required standards while recording notable improvements in the timeliness and efficiency of its response to trade-related matters,” Audu said.

She noted that the performance reflects a more transparent and business-friendly trading environment, attributing the achievement to the service’s sustained efforts to improve operational efficiency and stakeholder experience.

According to her, the development aligns with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business reforms aimed at making Nigeria more attractive to investors and businesses.

Audu also disclosed that 98 per cent of the 69 Ministries, Departments and Agencies assessed under the Business Facilitation Act now meet the expected service delivery standards.

She said the outcome demonstrates that reforms introduced under the Act are improving public service delivery across government institutions.

The recognition comes amid a series of reforms introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service to modernise customs administration and facilitate trade.

Among the initiatives are the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme and the Advance Ruling System.

The reforms are designed to simplify import and export procedures, shorten cargo clearance time, improve transparency and enhance predictability for traders doing business in Nigeria.

The Customs Service has in recent years intensified its drive towards digitalisation, automation and risk-based cargo processing as part of broader efforts to boost revenue generation, strengthen border management and improve the country’s competitiveness in international trade.

The latest ranking by PEBEC is expected to reinforce confidence in the ongoing reforms and support the government’s efforts to create a more efficient and investor-friendly business environment.