By Femi Anamelechi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), as part of renewed efforts to facilitate seamless trade at the Ports has collaborated with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). The giant stride is geared towards improving performance and efficiency at the ports The performance enhancing Models will also positively improve Nigeria’s trade facilitation at the ports.The initiative was unveiled at the opening of a three-day operational workshop held in Apapa on Tuesday, 7th April, 2026, themed “Customs Leadership in Port Efficiency, Inspection Reform and Clearance Timeline.” Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi in his speech pointed out five- key pivots focused on joint inspections, risk-based cargo clearance, optimisation of scanning infrastructure, enforcement of service timelines, and strengthened inter-agency coordination.
The CGC also highlighted that the priorities of NCS has gone beyond policy design but consistent execution.”This workshop is about closing the distance between knowing and doing. The Service must now focus on translating established best practices into consistent operational outcomes”, He further pointed out that the Nigeria Custom Service transition to intelligence-led cargo processing. According to the CGC the investments in digital platforms and scanning systems must translate into faster and more transparent clearance processes for traders. Adeniyi disclosed that the workshop would produce a reform execution matrix to be closely monitored. He called on officers to uphold professionalism at all times. “The reform implementation matrix will not end up in a filing cabinet. It will be actively monitored and I will personally be interested in the progress reports. The professionalism, the commitment, the integrity that this workshop asks of you is not qualities you need to acquire, I’m asking you to deploy them consistently, not selectively”, Speaking at the launch of the Model, the Director-General of PEBEC, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, pointed out the importance of adopting risk-based, data-driven inspection systems to improve efficiency and enhance seamless ease of doing business.
“We must move from inspecting everything to inspecting the right thing” The Director- General, emphasized that efficient and transparent border processes are critical to reducing costs and strengthening Nigeria’s trade position. In her remarks earlier, Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, pointed out the Nigeria Custom Service digital transformation mandate places it at the centre of trade facilitation and economic growth. She added that operational efficiency must be reflected across all commands.CGC Adewale Bashir Adenyi also led the PEBEC delegation on a visit to the National Single Window facility,The delegation met with the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zach Adedeji, and other stakeholders to assess progress made so far by the NSW and also address operational challenges.
