Customs says port reforms could cut cargo delays 40%, save N3trn annually

Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

…announces record N7trn revenue in 2025

Nigeria Customs Service says reforms at the country’s busiest ports could cut cargo clearance times by as much as 40% and deliver annual savings of about N3 trillion, as the Government tries to tackle logistics bottlenecks that have long raised the cost of doing business in Africa’s most populous economy.

The reform push comes as the Service posted a record revenue performance in 2025, collecting more than N7 trillion for the first time, a result officials say reflects stronger compliance, improved data use and expanding digital systems rather than tighter pressure on legitimate trade.

The findings are based on a Time Release Study conducted at Tin Can Island port in Lagos, prepared by the Nigeria Customs Service with support from the World Customs Organisation under its Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme. The report was formally unveiled in Abuja during an event marking International Customs Day.

The study examined cargo movement across all clearance stages to identify procedural, institutional and operational bottlenecks, while establishing a baseline for future performance improvements.

It found that while most consignments eventually clear the port, delays remain widespread. About 98.7% of shipments are cleared in an average of three days and 14 hours, yet 43% of consignments remain in the port for more than 10 days before final exit. A smaller but significant 1.3% take more than two months, with the longest case lasting 122 days, driven largely by idle time rather than active processing.

The data shows a sharp difference between physical inspections and non-intrusive methods. Only 1% of consignments were processed through scanning, but these were cleared in an average of 44 minutes, with all released the same day. By contrast, the 99% subjected to physical examination took an average of nearly five days, indicating that scanning cuts processing time by about 99%.

According to the report presented at the event by Dera A. Nnadi, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Strategic Research and policy, delays are driven by uncoordinated inspections by multiple government agencies, continued reliance on paper documentation despite electronic systems, frequent network and system downtime, and congestion linked to truck scheduling and empty container returns. About a quarter of clearing agents reported recurring system access problems, while truck and exit logistics accounted for more than a fifth of total clearance time.

Customs estimates that tackling the most immediate constraints could reduce clearance times by 25% to 30% within six months.

Proposed measures include enforcing joint inspections, expanding scanning capacity, automating delivery orders, introducing a centralised truck appointment system and improving digital integration across agencies.

Read also: Nigeria Customs posts record N7.2trn revenue in 2025 on tighter controls

“If fully implemented, the reforms could reduce average clearance times to under three days, align port operations with AfCFTA Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and World Trade Organisation standards, and deliver annual savings of about N3 trillion through lower demurrage and trade-related costs,” Nnadi stated.

In his speech, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs said the launch of the study marks a shift towards evidence-based reform as the service seeks to balance border security with trade facilitation.

Adeniyi called the report a diagnostic tool designed to expose inefficiencies at Nigeria’s ports and guide coordinated action across agencies and the private sector.

He linked the World Customs Organisation’s 2026 theme, “Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment” to Nigeria’s operating reality, describing protection as a daily responsibility that extends beyond revenue collection to intercepting narcotics, counterfeit medicines, illicit arms and environmentally harmful goods before they reach communities.

Adeniyi said last year’s operations disrupted criminal supply chains across ports, airports and land borders, including the seizure of prohibited goods valued at more than N59 billion nationwide, underscoring the breadth of the agency’s mandate.

The study showed that while examination processes can be efficient, excessive idle time driven by fragmented inspections, manual documentation and weak coordination continues to stretch overall clearance timelines.

Adeniyi said the findings confirm that Nigeria’s challenge is not the capacity to move goods quickly, but the systems that prevent them from doing so. “The fastest way to protect Nigerian traders and our economy is both through border security and procedural reform,” he said.

He noted that validated clearance data covering more than 600 declarations now provides customs with a clearer picture of where delays occur and how to target reforms, including synchronised inspections, improved gate coordination and better system interoperability.

Adeniyi said the study would be institutionalised as a recurring exercise rather than a one-off review, reflecting the need for continuous monitoring and adjustment.

Alongside operational reforms, Adeniyi disclosed that customs revenue rose sharply last year, reflecting improved compliance and data use rather than tougher enforcement on legitimate trade. “In 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service collected a total of N7.281 trillion,” he said, adding that the outcome showed reforms could strengthen state finances while easing the cost of doing business.

He said customs would deepen intelligence-led enforcement, expand technology use and strengthen partnerships across government and industry to sustain both security and economic growth.

Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State, Finance commended Customs for aligning its reforms with the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda, describing the study as a strategic policy tool rather than a technical exercise.

She said the initiative supports ongoing fiscal, monetary and structural reforms aimed at stabilising the macroeconomic environment, boosting investor confidence and lowering the cost of doing business.

Uzoka-Anite noted that by identifying bottlenecks, reducing transaction costs and improving transparency, the study strengthens Nigeria’s competitiveness at a time when global trade increasingly rewards speed, certainty and compliance.

She reaffirmed government support for customs-led reforms to modernise border management, enhance inter-agency coordination and translate the study’s findings into measurable gains for trade, jobs and economic growth.

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