The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Initiative, aimed at reducing cargo clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours.
In a press release issued by the Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller, Abdullahi Maiwada on 28th September, 2025, the initiative was formally unveiled in Abuja on 23rd September , 2025 during a meeting between the NCS management and Customs Area Controllers.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, described the OSS as a transformative measure that would reposition the Service in line with global best practices and the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy. He said the new system is designed to sanitise operations, reduce duplication of efforts, and bring predictability to clearance procedures.
According to Adeniyi, the reform will not only shorten clearance time but also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency, and make Customs operations more business-friendly. He stressed that the OSS framework requires all Customs units to work collaboratively on flagged declarations, eliminating multiple checks that often lead to delays. Consignments processed through the system, he added, will not be subject to re-interception, a move expected to reduce costs for businesses and enhance trade facilitation.
While acknowledging the growing role of technology in Customs operations, Adeniyi pointed out that human engagement remains critical. He noted that physical interaction among officers under one roof can add weight and value to deliberations, fostering unity of purpose and ensuring that decisions are executed with collective responsibility.
The Abuja meeting also featured a review of the Service’s accountability mechanisms, including the introduction of a central dashboard that will track clearance times, interventions, and levels of stakeholder satisfaction. This, the CGC explained, will help strengthen oversight and drive consistency across commands.
The customs boss further disclosed that the OSS will be piloted at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne Ports before being rolled out nationwide. He emphasised that the reform is backed by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and fully aligned with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, underscoring the Service’s determination to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly institution.
Following deliberations on the initiative, Customs Area Controllers expressed full support for the reform, describing it as timely and necessary to reposition the Service for greater efficiency. They pledged their readiness to drive its implementation at their respective commands in order to meet the 48-hour clearance target.
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