The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has formally announced the transition from the long standing Fast Track Scheme to the globally endorsed Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, marking a bold step in its efforts to modernize customs administration
The announcement was made at a Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum in Lagos on 6th August,2025
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , Assistant Comptroller-General Kingsley Egwu, emphasised that the shift represents a significant policy and operational evolution aimed at aligning Nigeria’s customs processes with international best practices under the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards.
The CGC acknowledged that while the Fast Track Scheme served a critical role for over a decade by rewarding compliant importers with expedited clearance, it became clear that its lack of a legal framework and limited risk management capability made it inadequate for modern supply chain demands. In response to these gaps, the NCS developed and implemented the AEO Programme a structured, globally recognized model that promotes predictability, compliance, and collaborative customs to business engagement.
According to the CGC, the programme is not merely a new policy but a paradigm shift in how Customs engages with the private sector. It underscores a move from traditional gatekeeping to partnership, and from enforcement-driven processes to facilitation-centered operations. He said AEO Programme, which was first piloted on April 15, 2024, and officially launched nationwide on February 14, 2025, rewards consistently compliant operators by streamlining clearance processes and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks.
The customs boss also revealed that a recent Time Release Study conducted by the Service shows that AEO-certified operators now enjoy an average cargo clearance time of 43 hours, significantly outperforming non-AEO traders. This improved turnaround time means lower logistics costs, quicker delivery, and enhanced supply chain predictability. He noted that this reform is also helping Nigeria fulfill its obligations under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, improving the overall efficiency of the trade ecosystem.
Adeniyi also disclosed that the service has also launched an ambitious reform of its Post Clearance Audit (PCA) system to support the AEO Programme and ensure ongoing compliance. The PCA reform, which took effect with a pilot launch on July 28, 2025, allows Customs to verify import transactions post clearance by auditing traders’ financial and non-financial records at their premises. This audit-based system, grounded in Sections 36(4) and 37(2) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, enables Customs to maintain revenue assurance while avoiding the disruption of legitimate trade.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs ZA Chiroma, the ACG in charge of the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Unit , in his address, said that in December 2024, the PCA Unit was moved from the Tariff and Trade Department to the Office of the Comptroller-General of Customs, signaling its elevation as a strategic compliance and revenue tool. This repositioning, he said came with the appointment of a dedicated Assistant Comptroller-General to oversee PCA operations, along with two senior Comptrollers to lead the administrative and operational divisions of the unit.
Under this new structure, the PCA Unit has introduced a risk-based audit methodology and initiated a framework for conducting comprehensive field audits, leveraging its expanded mandate under the new Customs Act. These reforms, according to ACG Chiroma, are designed to complement the AEO Programme by reducing unnecessary physical interventions, encouraging voluntary compliance, and ensuring that certified operators maintain high standards after cargo release.
He reminded stakeholders that the Fast Track Scheme will be formally decommissioned on December 31, 2025. Existing beneficiaries are required to reapply under the AEO framework through the dedicated online platform at aeo.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng to ensure a smooth migration, the Service has established clear operational guidelines, created a dedicated AEO Unit, and trained a team of professional validators to manage assessments and approvals.
ACG Chiroma reaffirmed that under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adeniyi, the Nigeria Customs Service remains firmly committed to reform, modernization, and collaboration. The migration from Fast Track to AEO, he said, is more than a policy shift but also a strategic decision to build a smarter, safer, and more predictable trading future for Nigeria.
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