Customs introduces one-stop-shop to boost trade efficiency at ports

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) initiative aimed at reducing demurrage charges and cutting cargo dwell time at the nation’s seaports, airports, and land borders.

The new system was unveiled during a stakeholders’ engagement session held at the Apapa Command.

According to the Service, the OSS is designed to streamline operations by enabling joint examination, unified decision-making, and real-time data sharing among relevant agencies — all in one location.

The platform also supports centralised documentation, analytical reporting, and seamless trader engagement through the Customs portal.

Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Zone A, Mohammed Babandede, said the initiative reflects the Comptroller-General’s commitment to enhancing efficiency and making Nigeria’s trade environment more competitive.

“The essence of this One-Stop-Shop is to facilitate trade.

“The CGC, in his wisdom, decided to roll out this tool because he is passionate about improving processes at our seaports, airports, and land borders.

“We want to make our ports competitive and friendly so that importers can continue to patronise them,” Babandede said.

He urged importers and clearing agents to remain compliant in order to fully benefit from the new system, noting that cooperation and understanding of the OSS framework were essential for its success.

Earlier, the OSS Technical Supervisor, Olawale Onigbanjo, explained that the initiative would eliminate redundant checks and replace multiple sequential interventions with a single joint examination.

This, he said, will boost efficiency, strengthen accountability, and ensure maximum revenue collection for the federal government.

Onigbanjo added that the OSS will help track additional duties recovered through the process, improve cargo evacuation, and reduce demurrage costs for stakeholders.

According to him, one of the key targets of the initiative is to cut clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours.

“The OSS initiative represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s trade facilitation journey.

“It aligns with global best practices and addresses long-standing challenges in our cargo clearance processes,” he said.