NCS seeks stakeholder collaboration to achieve 24-hour port operations

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says achieving 24-hour operations at the nation’s seaports requires full cooperation from all stakeholders, including banks, shipping companies, and terminal operators.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, made the remark during a weekend meeting with Princess Zahrah Audu, Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in Abuja. He stressed that past efforts to implement round-the-clock operations faced challenges because critical operators were not fully integrated into the logistics chain.

We once deployed officers to support round-the-clock port operations, but other key operators were not fully part of the arrangement,” Adeniyi said.

The CGC highlighted ongoing reforms, including efforts to create a fully paperless Customs environment, digitizing core processes such as pre-arrival documentation, cargo declaration, duty payment, and release communication. Delays, he said, mostly arise from operators still relying on physical documentation.

Adeniyi also noted investments in scanning technology and ICT infrastructure to strengthen risk-based cargo management and reduce dependence on physical inspections. He said development partners, including the World Bank, IMF, and World Trade Organization, have encouraged Nigeria to expand the use of non-intrusive inspection technology in line with global best practices.

The NCS recently conducted a Time Release Study (TRS) at Tin Can Island Port in collaboration with the World Customs Organization, terminal operators, shipping companies, financial institutions, and the Nigerian Ports Authority. The study assessed the time and costs associated with port operations, providing insights that are now guiding reforms.

Princess Audu highlighted PEBEC’s ongoing 90-day Business Environment Enhancement Programme, aimed at improving efficiency across business-facing ministries and agencies. The programme includes operational assessments at Lagos ports to identify bottlenecks and recommend practical improvements, including better coordination of cargo inspections and smarter use of technology.

Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs for ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, added that 24-hour port operations should focus on strategic deployment of personnel based on vessel schedules rather than simply extending working hours.

The collaboration between NCS and PEBEC underscores a shared commitment to streamline port operations, reduce delays, and reposition Nigeria as a competitive hub for global trade.

Culled from vanguard