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FG unveils bold reforms to overhaul Nigerian port operations and trade systems
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National Single Window to harmonise documentation and end human delays by early 2026
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Executive Order to enforce joint inspection, speed up clearance, and boost Nigeria’s trade ranking
The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive reform plan aimed at reducing cargo clearance time at Nigerian ports to under seven days by the end of 2026.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this during the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
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He said the administration is determined to transform port operations and position Nigeria’s gateways among the top three most efficient in Africa.
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According to Shettima, the upcoming National Single Window (NSW) initiative will serve as a major game changer by harmonising documentation, reducing physical interaction, and ensuring full transparency in port processes.
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“By the end of 2026, we aim to reduce average cargo clearance time in Nigeria to under seven days and to position our ports among the top three most efficient trade gateways on the continent,” the Vice President stated.
He added that the Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection, awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s approval, would institutionalise collaboration among port agencies and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Shettima noted that cargo dwell time at Nigerian ports currently averages between 18 and 21 days, far higher than the five to seven days recorded in Ghana and four days in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
“Our ports record cargo dwell times 475% above the global average benchmark. These inefficiencies are not just statistics; they represent an economic ailment that drives up consumer prices and weakens our export competitiveness,” he warned.
The Vice President directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), NAFDAC, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and other agencies to develop a roadmap that will modernise Nigeria’s weights and measures framework for improved trade efficiency.
He stressed that inter-agency synergy would be key to achieving success, warning that rivalry and fragmentation would only undermine progress.
“The era of siloed operations must end. Inter-agency rivalry must give way to synergy. Our success will depend on what we achieve together,” he emphasised.
Speaking earlier, the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Audu, urged stakeholders to align efforts to enhance the Ease of Doing Business.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, also highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that the ongoing adoption of technology, infrastructure upgrades, and human capacity development were central to achieving efficiency.
Meanwhile, former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, recently urged the Federal Government to diversify port development beyond Lagos.
He warned that concentrating maritime activities in Lagos could worsen congestion and raise operational costs despite the recent $1 billion approval for the modernisation of Apapa and TinCan Island Ports.
