By Sodiq Adelakun

The Federal Government has approved the launch of a Time Release Study (TRS) to identify bottlenecks that slow the clearance of goods across Nigeria’s trade corridors, a move expected to enhance efficiency and transparency in the country’s ports.

The approval was announced on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, at the 2026 World Customs Day celebration, themed “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment.”

At the event, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) revealed it collected ₦7.281 trillion in revenue in 2025, exceeding its target of ₦6.584 trillion by ₦697 billion, marking a growth of more than 10 per cent above target.

Speaking on the TRS, Dr Uzoka-Anite said the initiative is a key policy instrument to measure performance, reduce transaction costs, and improve operational transparency.

“By objectively tracking the time required for goods to move across borders, Nigeria is taking a decisive step towards smarter regulations and evidence-based decision-making,” she said.

The minister explained that the study will monitor how long goods take to move from clearance to delivery, supporting the government’s ease of doing business agenda and boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.

She emphasised that while trade facilitation is important, Customs must continue to safeguard national security and societal protection.

“The Nigerian Customs Service must strengthen risk management, technology compliance, inter-agency collaboration, and post-TRS controls,” Uzoka-Anite added, assuring continued government support for reforms promoting transparency and modern border management.

In a message to the event, World Customs Organisation Secretary-General Ian Saunders highlighted the importance of customs in protecting society.

“I encourage members to actively participate in WCO-led operations and fully utilise WCO standards and tools. The strength of our vigilance lies in using all the resources at our disposal,” he said.

Providing a detailed account of Customs’ performance in 2025, Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi said the ₦7.281 trillion revenue represents a 19 per cent increase from 2024, when the service collected ₦6.1 trillion.

“These results are not for self-congratulation but evidence that reforms are producing tangible outcomes,” Adeniyi said, attributing the gains to improved compliance, better use of data, digital tools, and disciplined enforcement, rather than excessive pressure on legitimate traders.

He disclosed that Customs made over 2,500 seizures, removing prohibited and harmful goods worth more than ₦59 billion from circulation, including narcotics, counterfeit medicines, wildlife products, arms, petroleum products, vehicles, and substandard consumer goods.

“These interventions prevented harm ranging from unsafe medical treatments and addiction to violent crime and environmental damage,” he noted.

The TRS, conducted at Tin Can Island Port, revealed that while cargo examinations are relatively efficient, unnecessary idle periods caused by fragmented scheduling, manual paperwork, and poor coordination continue to slow clearance.

“Our challenge is not that we cannot move goods fast; it is that goods are not allowed to move fast,” Adeniyi said.

He stressed that the study represents a shift from opinion-driven to data-driven reforms, providing a foundation for sustained improvements in Nigeria’s trade and border management system