By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called on businesses and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s trading community to embrace joint responsibility and stronger collaboration with the Service to achieve faster cargo clearance, improve compliance and reduce the cost of doing business.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the call on Thursday, September 10, 2026, in Lagos, during a sensitisation programme on Post-Clearance Audit (PCA) organised by the Nigeria Customs Service.
The engagement is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal system, improve non-oil revenue generation and create a more efficient and business-friendly trading environment.
Adeniyi said the Customs Service was increasingly moving away from an approach centred solely on physical inspection and enforcement towards a modern system based on risk management, compliance, trust and partnership with legitimate businesses.
He explained that the adoption of the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) programme had already contributed significantly to reducing cargo clearance time for compliant businesses.
According to him, 247 companies have so far been admitted into the AEO modernisation system since its inception.
“Before we started AEO, companies used to have an average of 156 hours in terms of clearance time. But now, it has been reduced to 43 hours. In fact, one of them has achieved an eight-hour clearance time because of the quality of their documentation,” Adeniyi said.
The Customs boss attributed the improvement largely to the quality of documentation and compliance by participating companies, stressing that businesses that provide accurate and complete information are better positioned to enjoy faster clearance and other trade facilitation benefits.
He urged businesses to regard compliance not merely as a regulatory obligation but as a key component of efficient international trade.
Adeniyi further explained that the renewed Post-Clearance Audit model was designed in line with international Customs standards and best practices, particularly the principles contained in the Revised Kyoto Convention, which provides a framework for modern Customs administration.
He said the approach was also consistent with Article 7.5 of the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, under which Customs administrations are encouraged to conduct post-clearance audits as a means of expediting the release of goods.
According to him, information obtained through PCA would not be treated in isolation, but would be integrated into the Service’s risk-management system.
He said audit findings would help Customs identify areas of non-compliance, strengthen controls and close potential gaps before they become major liabilities for government or businesses.
“The objective of the Service is not to police businesses,” Adeniyi said, stressing that Customs was seeking to build a sustainable partnership with the private sector capable of positioning Nigeria as a major economic and trading hub.
He encouraged members of the business community to use engagements with Customs to understand their rights and responsibilities and to seek clarification whenever necessary.
The Comptroller-General advised traders and importers to communicate with the Service whenever they encountered uncertainty over Customs procedures, documentation or compliance requirements, rather than allowing errors to develop into costly liabilities.
He said a cooperative relationship between Customs and businesses would help reduce unnecessary delays, improve revenue collection and create greater predictability for legitimate traders.
The Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Post-Clearance Audit, Babatunde Olomu, described the sensitisation programme as a strategic tool for improving revenue assurance, encouraging voluntary compliance and strengthening Customs administration.
Olomu said the financial impact of PCA interventions had become increasingly evident in the revenue performance of the Service.
He disclosed that the NCS collected ₦21.3 billion from Post-Clearance Audit interventions between January and August 2025, while the corresponding period in 2026 recorded ₦26.2 billion.
“The impact of PCA intervention is evident in the Service’s revenue performance. ₦21.3 billion was collected between January and August 2025. For corresponding year 2026, we have ₦26.2 billion, which is a 27.7 per cent increase year-on-year,” Olomu said.
He explained that PCA enables Customs to examine transactions and records after goods have been released, allowing the Service to verify whether declarations, classifications, valuations, duties and other obligations were properly handled.
The approach, he said, also allows Customs to concentrate its resources on areas presenting higher compliance risks while facilitating faster release of goods belonging to compliant operators.
The programme also featured goodwill messages from representatives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other stakeholders in the business community.
The stakeholders emphasised the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration between Customs and the private sector, particularly in addressing bottlenecks that affect cargo movement and the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.
They stressed that faster cargo clearance was critical to reducing logistics costs, improving supply-chain efficiency and strengthening the competitiveness of locally manufactured products.
Participants also highlighted the importance of transparent procedures, accurate documentation and clear communication between Customs and businesses.
The stakeholders expressed support for initiatives that reward compliant businesses with faster and more predictable clearance processes while ensuring that appropriate action is taken against deliberate non-compliance.
The sensitisation programme therefore underscored the evolving role of Customs in Nigeria’s trade and fiscal environment, with greater emphasis on technology, risk management, post-clearance verification and voluntary compliance.
With the continued expansion of the AEO programme and strengthening of PCA mechanisms, the NCS is seeking to strike a balance between trade facilitation and revenue protection, ensuring that legitimate businesses can move their goods efficiently while government revenue is adequately safeguarded.
The Service maintained that achieving this objective would require shared responsibility, with Customs providing efficient and transparent procedures while businesses uphold their obligations through accurate declarations, proper documentation and compliance with applicable laws.
The initiative forms part of the broader drive to make Nigeria’s ports and trading environment more efficient, predictable and competitive, while supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to expand non-oil revenue and facilitate sustainable economic growth.
