The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a digital One-Stop-Shop (OSS) platform aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks at the nation’s seaports and reducing cargo clearance time to just 48 hours.
The initiative was unveiled at a ceremony in Lagos on Friday, February 13, 2026, where the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the platform as a landmark structural reform designed to modernise border operations and enhance Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
According to him, the OSS platform aligns with ongoing economic and business reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, while also supporting global trade efficiency standards established under the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement. He noted that efficient border reforms could reduce trade costs in developing economies by more than 14 percent.
Adeniyi explained that the new system represents a shift toward coordinated digital governance and data-driven decision-making within customs operations.
“This platform is a deliberate shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated governance, from discretion to data, and from isolated actions to collective responsibility,” he said. “Through this reform, we continue to build systems that support lawful trade, protect national interests, and serve the economy with professionalism and integrity.”
He further disclosed that the Service is progressing toward a fully paperless customs environment, with the first phase of digital clearance and documentation processes expected to be rolled out before the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Also speaking at the event, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the OSS platform consolidates all risk interventions into a single electronic interface, effectively streamlining multiple inspections and checkpoints into one coordinated digital system.
She noted that the reform was informed by stakeholder feedback highlighting how multiple risk checks and procedural delays have historically slowed business processes at Nigerian ports.
A technical presentation by the Service’s Trade Facilitation Unit outlined implementation strategies aimed at reducing cargo clearance timelines from an average of 21 days to approximately 48 hours, while also addressing anticipated operational challenges during rollout.
Stakeholders at the engagement expressed strong support for the initiative, describing it as a major step toward facilitating legitimate trade and improving efficiency within Nigeria’s maritime logistics chain. An interactive session held during the event also provided industry players with clarifications on operational procedures and expectations ahead of the OSS deployment.
The digital One-Stop-Shop platform is expected to strengthen transparency, improve port efficiency, and position Nigeria as a more competitive destination for international trade and investment.
