Nigeria customs, PEBEC align to revolutionise port digitalisation
By Matthew Denis
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) have entered into a strategic alliance to revolutionize port operations through total digitalization and the elimination of bureaucratic bottlenecks.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, announced the move following a high-level meeting with the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu, at Customs House in Abuja.
The collaboration aims to transition Nigeria to a fully paperless port environment, positioning the country as a more competitive hub for global trade.
CGC Adeniyi revealed that the Service, in partnership with the World Customs Organisation (WCO), recently concluded a scientific "Time Release Study" (TRS) at Tin Can Island Port.
The report, launched on January 26, 2026, involved a cross-section of the port community, including shipping lines, terminal operators, and financial institutions.
“The report has already provided valuable insights that are guiding some of the reforms we are implementing,” Adeniyi stated.
He noted that while pre-arrival documentation and duty payments are already digitized, delays often persist due to private operators who still rely on physical paperwork.
Addressing the long-standing goal of 24-hour port operations, Adeniyi explained that previous attempts faced hurdles because other critical links in the logistics chain such as banks and shipping companies, were not fully integrated.
DCG Oluyomi Adebakin (ICT and Modernization) added that the new strategy focuses on "smarter deployment" rather than just longer hours.
By using vessel arrival schedules for data-driven planning, the Service intends to deploy officers more strategically, ensuring that personnel are available exactly when needed to facilitate cargo exit.
In her remarks, Princess Zahrah Audu disclosed that PEBEC is currently implementing a 90-day "Business Environment Enhancement Programme."
This follows an operational assessment at Lagos ports in November 2025, which identified the need for better coordination in cargo inspections and joint vessel boarding by regulatory agencies.
“The exercise enabled us to identify key operational challenges and develop practical recommendations for improvement,” Audu said, emphasizing that the council is working to remove bottlenecks identified in its latest Compliance Report.
The Service also highlighted its suite of modern trade tools designed for trusted traders, including the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) program, Advance Ruling Systems, and a One-Stop-Shop model.
These initiatives, combined with increased investment in non-intrusive scanning technology supported by the World Bank and IMF, are expected to drastically reduce the need for physical cargo examinations.
By aligning Customs reforms with PEBEC’s business facilitation mandate, the Federal Government aims to finalize a digital architecture that ensures cargo clearance is faster, more transparent, and aligned with global best practices.