In a bold push to enhance trade facilitation and improve ease of doing business, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have launched the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC).
The initiative aims to tackle bottlenecks in Nigeria's port system that have long hindered small businesses, importers, and exporters.
Unveiled in Lagos, the committee is tasked with implementing solutions to reduce cargo clearance time, vessel turnaround, and overall costs for port users—an issue that has stifled economic opportunities for local businesses.
PEBEC Director General, Princess Zahrah Audu, said the committee represents a shift from policy talk to practical reforms.
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"This is not just another reform plan. We're focusing on implementation and measurable impact," she said. "Small businesses, freight operators, and exporters lose time and money every day due to inefficiencies at the ports. This committee is here to change that."
Audu emphasized that the committee is inclusive of private sector players—terminal operators, freight forwarders, logistics providers—reflecting a shared ownership approach to solving systemic challenges.
NPA Managing Director, Abubakar Dantsoho, echoed the commitment to change, stating that infrastructure and system upgrades are underway, including planned reconstruction of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports and the rollout of a Port Community System (PCS) to digitize operations.
"Tin Can was built almost five decades ago and Apapa nearly a century ago—yet no major rehab has occurred. This changes now," Dantsoho said.
For SMEs and larger businesses alike, the reform is expected to unlock faster cargo processing, cut operational costs, and encourage trade competitiveness—offering new opportunities for local growth and global integration.
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