The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has rolled out its One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Initiative, a sweeping reform aimed at reducing cargo clearance time from 21 days to just 48 hours.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, unveiled the initiative on Thursday, September 23, 2025, during a high-level meeting with Management staff and Customs Area Controllers in Abuja.
Describing the OSS as a “transformative shift,” Adeniyi said the reform was aligned with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy and global best practices.
“The OSS initiative will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency, and make our operations more business-friendly,” Adeniyi declared.
He explained that under the new framework, all Customs Units would jointly handle flagged declarations, eliminating duplication, multiple checks, and costly delays. Importantly, consignments cleared under the OSS will not face re-interceptions.
Adeniyi also stressed that technology alone cannot drive reform without leadership and synergy among officers.
“As much as technology has helped us, it has its limits. There are moments when physical presence coming together under one roof adds weight and value to our deliberations. Meetings like this strengthen our unity of purpose and ensure we speak with one voice,” he said.
The Customs boss revealed that the OSS would be piloted at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne Ports before a full nationwide rollout. He added that the initiative enjoys legal backing under the NCS Act 2023 and is consistent with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly Customs Service,” Adeniyi affirmed.
The Abuja session also featured a review of the Service’s accountability framework, including a new central dashboard designed to monitor clearance times, interventions, and stakeholder satisfaction.
In their responses, Customs Area Controllers pledged total commitment to the reform, describing the OSS as timely, necessary, and capable of repositioning the Service for greater efficiency.