The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has unveiled a digital One-Stop-Shop (OSS) platform aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks at Nigeria’s ports and reducing cargo clearance time to just 48 hours.
The launch ceremony took place in Lagos, with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, describing the OSS initiative as a major structural reform to modernize border operations and strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
The platform aligns with national business reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and meets global standards outlined in the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which estimates that efficient border reforms can reduce trade costs in developing economies by more than 14 percent.
Speaking at the event, Adeniyi said, “This platform is a deliberate shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated governance, from discretion to data, and from isolated actions to collective responsibility. Through this reform, we continue to build systems that support lawful trade, protect national interests, and serve the economy with professionalism and integrity.”
He also revealed that the NCS is moving toward a fully paperless customs environment, with the first phase of digital clearance and documentation scheduled for rollout by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, added that the OSS platform consolidates all risk interventions into a single electronic interface, streamlining multiple checks under one digital system.
“Today, the NCS is introducing the One-Stop-Shop digital platform, an innovative system designed to consolidate all risk interventions at the port into a single electronic interface,” Niagwan said. “We have listened to feedback from stakeholders and recognised how multiple checkpoints and risk interventions affect business processes. Your involvement in this engagement is crucial to the success of this reform.”
The Service’s Trade Facilitation Unit also presented technical strategies to reduce clearance time from an average of 21 days to about 48 hours, outlining implementation plans and anticipated challenges.
Stakeholders at the event expressed strong support for the initiative, noting that the digital OSS platform would enhance legitimate trade and improve efficiency at Nigeria’s ports. An interactive session provided further clarifications on operational procedures and expectations for the rollout.
The launch marks a significant milestone in NCS’s ongoing efforts to modernize border operations, facilitate trade, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in global commerce.