By Ajibola Adedoye
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced a new centralised clearance hub designed to fast-track cargo processing and improve trade efficiency across the nation’s busiest seaports.
Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General Mohammed Babandede, announced the initiative during the official launch of the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) system in Apapa, Lagos, on Thursday.
Positioned as a unified operational centre, the OSS is engineered to simplify how Customs handles flagged or non-compliant declarations by bringing all relevant units together under one coordinated framework. Babandede said the innovation is expected to reduce average cargo dwell time to about 48 hours, enhance transparency, and strengthen collaboration among agencies working within port corridors.
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According to him, the platform will work in sync with the existing B’Odogwu digital system, offering real-time data sharing, centralised documentation, analytical reporting, and seamless trader interactions through the Customs portal. These features, he noted, will significantly reduce demurrage costs and curb the bureaucratic delays that often hinder cargo release.
Babandede praised the NCS-ICT team for building the platform, calling it a major milestone in the service’s modernisation drive. He, however, emphasised that the success of the OSS would depend on integrity, compliance, and commitment from both Customs personnel and port users.
The unveiling attracted key port stakeholders, including area comptrollers, terminal operators, licensed agents, brokers, and freight forwarder representatives. Many port users described the OSS as a timely intervention that would improve port operations and boost trade facilitation nationwide.
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