Customs launches one-stop shop to cut cargo clearance to 48 hours

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a new One-Stop Shop (OSS) initiative designed to reduce cargo clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours.

NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, announced the development in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, noting that the initiative was recently unveiled during a meeting between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and Customs Area Controllers.

According to Maiwada, the meeting focused on the service’s modernisation agenda and the role of leadership in driving reforms across commands.

Adeniyi described the OSS as a transformative shift aligned with global best practices and the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.

He explained that the reform is intended to streamline operations, eliminate duplication, and improve predictability in customs procedures.

“The OSS initiative will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency and make our operations more business-friendly,” Adeniyi said.

He stressed that while technology plays a key role in modern customs operations, physical engagement among officers remains essential.

“As much as technology has helped us, it has its limits. There are moments when physical presence, coming together under one roof, adds weight and value to our deliberations,” he added.

The OSS will first be piloted at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne Ports before being expanded nationwide.

Adeniyi noted that the reform is backed by the NCS Act 2023 and aligns with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.

“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly Customs Service,” he said.

Maiwada further explained that under the OSS framework, all customs units will jointly handle flagged declarations, eliminating multiple checks and reducing delays.

Consignments cleared under the scheme will also not be subject to re-interception, cutting costs and enhancing trade facilitation.

He added that the Abuja meeting also provided an opportunity to review NCS’s accountability framework, including a new central dashboard to track clearance times, interventions, and stakeholder satisfaction.