By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a digital One-Stop-Shop (OSS) platform aimed at eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks at the nation’s ports and reducing cargo clearance time to 48 hours.
The initiative was unveiled in Lagos on Friday, February 13, 2026, by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who described the platform as a major structural reform designed to modernise border operations and boost Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
Adeniyi said the reform aligns with broader economic and business transformation efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, as well as global standards set by the World Trade Organization under its Trade Facilitation Agreement. He noted that efficient border reforms could reduce trade costs in developing economies by more than 14 per cent.
According to him, the Service is also advancing towards a fully paperless customs system, with the first phase of digital clearance and documentation processes scheduled for rollout by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
“This platform represents a deliberate shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated governance, from discretion to data, and from isolated actions to collective responsibility,” Adeniyi said. “Through this reform, we are building systems that support lawful trade, safeguard national interests, and serve the economy with professionalism and integrity.”
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, explained that the OSS platform consolidates all risk interventions into a single electronic interface, effectively streamlining multiple checks under one digital umbrella.
“Today, the NCS is introducing the One-Stop-Shop digital platform, an innovative system designed to integrate all risk interventions at the port into a unified electronic interface,” she said. “We have taken stakeholders’ feedback into account and recognised how multiple checkpoints and risk interventions affect business operations. Your participation remains critical to the success of this reform.”
A technical presentation by the Service’s Trade Facilitation Unit detailed strategies to reduce cargo clearance time from an average of 21 days to approximately 48 hours, highlighting implementation plans and anticipated challenges.
Stakeholders at the engagement expressed strong support for the initiative, noting that the platform would enhance efficiency and promote legitimate trade. An interactive session also provided further clarifications on operational procedures and expectations ahead of the OSS rollout.
