The Nigeria Customs Service has unveiled a new One-Stop Shop (OSS) platform aimed at streamlining cargo clearance and tackling persistent port delays. The initiative was launched in Lagos as part of broader reforms to modernise trade procedures and improve efficiency across the country’s maritime logistics sector.
The OSS platform introduces a unified operational system that centralises key customs functions, enhances coordination of risk management interventions, and reduces congestion and bottlenecks that have long affected major ports. Officials say it will fast-track clearance processes, standardise actions on non-compliant declarations, and improve dispute resolution through real-time data sharing and joint decision-making among customs units.
The development aligns with ongoing digital reforms, including the rollout of the National Single Window, designed to transform customs operations and shorten cargo clearance timelines. Authorities have previously set a target of reducing average clearance time to under seven days by the end of 2026.
A stakeholder engagement held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja brought together regulators, manufacturers, freight forwarders, customs agents, and industry operators, many of whom welcomed the platform as a long-awaited reform expected to improve ease of doing business at ports and borders.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Kemen Niagwan, said the OSS fulfils international obligations requiring governments to consult stakeholders before implementing major trade measures. She explained that discussions on a unified intervention platform began in 2018 but were delayed by coordination gaps among agencies and partners.
According to her, the system consolidates risk interventions under a single digital interface, eliminating multiple checkpoints that previously slowed cargo clearance and increased costs. She urged officers and stakeholders to support the platform, stressing that its success depends on discipline and cooperation.
Representing the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Osidipe described the initiative as a strategic step toward removing bottlenecks and strengthening inter-agency collaboration. He noted that manufacturers expect the platform to reduce production costs, speed cargo turnaround, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
Elijah Adeyemi
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