The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has unveiled a digital One-Stop-Shop (OSS) platform aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks at the nation’s ports and reducing cargo clearance time to 48 hours.
The platform was launched at a ceremony held in Lagos over the weekend where the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the initiative as a far-reaching structural reform designed to modernise border operations and enhance Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
Adeniyi said the new system aligns with ongoing business reforms under the administration of President Bola Tinubu and conforms with global best practices under the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement.
He noted that the agreement estimates that efficient border reforms can reduce trade costs in developing economies by more than 14 per cent.
According to him, the Service is also progressing toward a fully paperless customs environment, with the first phase of digital clearance and documentation processes scheduled for rollout by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
“This platform represents a deliberate shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated governance, from discretion to data, and from isolated actions to collective responsibility,” Adeniyi said. “Through this reform, we are building systems that support lawful trade, protect national interests, and serve the economy with professionalism and integrity.”
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, explained that the OSS platform consolidates all risk interventions into a single electronic interface, thereby streamlining multiple checks under one digital framework.
She said the Service had taken into account feedback from stakeholders regarding the impact of multiple checkpoints and risk interventions on business processes.
A technical presentation by the Service’s Trade Facilitation Unit detailed strategies to cut cargo clearance time from an average of 21 days to approximately 48 hours. The presentation also outlined implementation plans and anticipated operational challenges.
Stakeholders at the engagement expressed support for the initiative, noting that the digital platform would facilitate legitimate trade and improve operational efficiency at the ports.
An interactive session provided further clarification on operational procedures and expectations ahead of the OSS rollout.
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