Nigeria has launched a flagship reform designed to transform its ports into globally competitive trade hubs. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) unveiled its One-Stop-Shop (OSS) initiative in Abuja, with a bold promise to slash cargo clearance times from an average of 21 days to just 48 hours.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the OSS as a turning point in aligning Nigeria’s trade operations with international benchmarks while advancing the government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda.
For decades, bottlenecks at Nigerian ports have inflated costs for traders, discouraged investment, and forced cargo traffic to neighbouring countries. Under the OSS, all customs units will work collaboratively on flagged declarations, eliminating duplicate checks and ending the practice of re-intercepting cleared consignments.
“This reform is about restoring confidence, predictability, and transparency in customs operations,” Adeniyi said. “By cutting clearance times, we are making Nigeria’s ports more attractive for business and boosting our global competitiveness.”
The initiative will first be rolled out at Apapa, Tincan Island, and Onne ports before nationwide adoption. Supported by the NCS Act 2023 and aligned with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, it also introduces a new performance dashboard to monitor clearance times and stakeholder satisfaction.
Trade analysts note that if fully implemented, the OSS could reduce demurrage costs, shorten supply chains, and attract investment back to Nigerian ports. Importers, exporters, and logistics operators are expected to see faster turnaround times, while the economy gains from stronger trade flows.
Customs officials pledged full commitment to the reform, describing it as “timely and necessary” for repositioning the service as a credible facilitator of global trade.
With the OSS, Nigeria is signalling its determination to shift from a system of delays and inefficiencies to one built on speed, efficiency, and trust—critical ingredients for economic growth and investor confidence.
