The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced plans to fully automate its overtime cargo clearance system in Zone 'A', with the aim of reducing port congestion, improving transparency, curbing corruption, and making trade easier for businesses—including small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
At a sensitisation forum with stakeholders in Lagos, Comptroller-General Adeniyi Adewale explained that some cargoes had remained in ports for over 15 years, a situation that has slowed trade and increased costs for importers. He noted that over half of the daily complaints Customs receives are linked to overtime cargo delays, stressing that the new system is designed to facilitate trade rather than raise revenue.
Adeniyi emphasised that the focus is to get cargoes—particularly those belonging to importers, manufacturers, and SMEs—quickly into circulation instead of letting them sit idle in terminals. He added that priority desks have been set up to fast-track clearance of imports critical to sectors such as power, roads, health, and education.
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The new automated system will also block loopholes, reduce human interference, and prevent corruption, while ensuring that cargoes reach businesses faster. Assistant Comptroller-General Idaho Umar highlighted that the end-to-end digital clearance system will streamline documentation, enhance data integrity, and restore public confidence in cargo management.
For SMEs, the initiative promises to reduce logistics costs, shorten clearance timelines, and improve competitiveness in both local and international trade. By easing port congestion and promoting efficiency, the system is expected to make Nigeria's ports more business-friendly, opening growth opportunities for smaller traders and manufacturers.
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