The Nigeria Customs Service has launched a new digital One-Stop-Shop (OSS) platform to cut cargo clearance at Nigeria’s ports to just 48 hours, a major step to reduce bureaucratic delays and boost trade efficiency.
Speaking in Lagos on Friday, 13 February 2026, Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi described the platform as a “major structural reform” to modernise border operations and strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
“This platform is a deliberate shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated governance, from discretion to data, and from isolated actions to collective responsibility,” he said.
Adeniyi added that the reform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s broader business agenda and global standards under the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which estimates that efficient border reforms can reduce trade costs in developing economies by over 14 percent.
He also announced plans to transition to a fully paperless customs system by mid-2026.
Deputy Comptroller-General Caroline Niagwan explained that the OSS platform consolidates all risk checks at the ports into a single electronic interface, streamlining operations for businesses.
“We have listened to your feedback and recognised how multiple checkpoints affect trade processes.
Your involvement is crucial to the success of this reform,” she said.
A technical presentation by the Customs Trade Facilitation Unit showed how the platform will reduce clearance time from an average of 21 days to 48 hours.
Stakeholders attending the launch welcomed the move, highlighting its potential to facilitate legitimate trade and improve efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
