In a major move to decongest Nigeria’s seaports and streamline cargo handling operations, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a fully automated system for the clearance of overtime cargoes goods left uncleared beyond the legally permitted timeframe.
The initiative, unveiled at a sensitisation forum in Lagos, is designed to reduce delays, improve port efficiency, and ensure faster turnover of imports.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the automation represents a significant shift from the existing manual clearance process, which has often contributed to chronic congestion at Nigerian ports.
“Our goal is to inject transparency, reduce corruption, and improve the speed and efficiency of cargo clearance,” he said.
According to Adeniyi, overtime cargoes often the result of administrative, financial, or procedural delays occupy valuable space at the ports, complicating logistics and disrupting trade flows.
Under the new digital system:
- Cargoes not cleared within 30 days will be automatically flagged and sent to the office of the Assistant Comptroller-General for review.
- After 90 days, unresolved consignments will be escalated to the Customs Headquarters for further processing.
- By day 120, cargoes will be moved to the disposal stage, where they will be evaluated based on depreciation and condition before being assigned a final disposal value.
Adeniyi clarified that the reform is not a revenue drive but a trade facilitation measure.
Despite Customs collecting a record-breaking ₦6.3 trillion in 2024, less than 1% of that came from overtime cargo-related activities.
“This system is about efficiency, not profit. It’s about ensuring goods don’t sit idle for months, taking up space that could be used for new imports,” he said.
To avoid disruptions in key sectors, dedicated clearance desks have been established for high-priority imports, such as:
- Government infrastructure projects
- Health and medical equipment
- Educational supplies
- International organization consignments
These will receive expedited handling to prevent bureaucratic hold-ups.
Adeniyi also announced plans for ongoing engagement with terminal operators, shipping companies, and clearing agents. More sensitisation workshops will be held at Customs commands nationwide to ensure seamless adoption of the system.
The Service, he said, will:
- Closely monitor implementation
- Incorporate feedback from industry stakeholders
- Remain vigilant against misuse or abuse of the automated process
Port congestion remains a long-standing bottleneck for Nigeria’s import and logistics sector. Experts estimate that slow cargo turnover leads to billions in lost productivity and increased demurrage charges annually.
This automation is expected to:
- Free up much-needed port space
- Accelerate cargo processing
- Strengthen regulatory compliance
- Reduce opportunities for manual interference or extortion
About the Author
