The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has joined forces with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to roll out a targeted reform agenda aimed at boosting port efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s trade competitiveness. The initiative was unveiled at the opening of a three‑day operational workshop in Apapa on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, themed *“Customs Leadership in Port Efficiency, Inspection Reform and Clearance Timeline.”*
In his address, the Comptroller‑General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, outlined a five‑pillar strategy built on joint inspections, risk‑based cargo clearance, better use of scanning infrastructure, strict enforcement of service timelines, and stronger coordination among government agencies. He stressed that the focus is no longer on policy design, but on disciplined execution.
“This workshop is about closing the distance between knowing and doing. The Service must now focus on translating established best practices into consistent operational outcomes,” Adeniyi said, emphasising the shift to intelligence‑led and data‑driven customs processes. He added that investments in digital platforms and scanning systems must deliver measurably faster, clearer, and more transparent clearance for traders.
To ensure accountability, the CGC disclosed that the workshop will produce a reform execution matrix that will be actively monitored instead of gathering dust in file cabinets. He pledged to personally track progress and urged officers to uphold professionalism, integrity, and commitment at all times.
“The reform implementation matrix will not end up in a filing cabinet. It will be actively monitored, and I will personally follow the progress reports,” he said. “The professionalism, commitment, and integrity that this workshop asks of you are qualities you need to acquire, and deploy consistently, not selectively.”
PEBEC’s Director‑General, Zahrah Mustapha‑Audu, highlighted the need to replace blanket inspections with risk‑based, data‑driven clearance systems to reduce delays and the cost of doing business.
“We must move from inspecting everything to inspecting the right thing,” Mustapha‑Audu declared, noting that efficient, transparent border processes are critical to improving Nigeria’s trade environment and global competitiveness.
Deputy Comptroller‑General in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, added that the evolving role of the NCS places the Service at the heart of trade facilitation and economic growth, underscoring the need to embed efficiency and standardisation across all Commands.
As part of the engagement, the CGC and PEBEC delegation also inspected the National Single Window facility, holding discussions with the Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, and other stakeholders to review implementation progress and address lingering operational gaps.