NCS, PEBEC Launch Reform Agenda to Improve Port Efficiency

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), has launched a reform agenda aimed at improving port operations and strengthening Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.

According to a statement released to the press by the National Public Relations Officer of the Custom Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, the initiative was unveiled at the opening of a three-day operational workshop held in Apapa on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, with the theme “Customs Leadership in Port Efficiency, Inspection Reform and Clearance Timeline.”

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, outlined a five-point strategy centred on joint inspections, risk-based cargo clearance, improved scanning infrastructure, enforcement of service timelines, and stronger inter-agency coordination. He said the focus has shifted from policy formulation to effective implementation.

He noted that the workshop was designed to bridge the gap between established best practices and actual operational delivery, stressing that the Service must prioritise consistent outcomes.

Adeniyi also highlighted a transition towards intelligence-led cargo processing, adding that investments in digital platforms and scanning systems are expected to deliver faster and more transparent clearance processes.

To ensure accountability, he said the workshop would produce a reform implementation matrix that would be actively monitored, with progress reports tracked at the highest level. He urged officers to demonstrate professionalism, commitment and integrity in carrying out the reforms.

PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, emphasised the need for risk-based and data-driven inspection systems, noting that targeted inspections would improve efficiency and reduce the cost of doing business.

She said efficient and transparent border processes are essential to strengthening Nigeria’s position in global trade.

Earlier, Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the Service’s expanding role in trade facilitation places it at the centre of economic growth, adding that efficiency must be reflected across all commands.

Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General and the PEBEC delegation visited the National Single Window facility, where they met with the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, and other stakeholders to review progress and address operational challenges.