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Nigeria Marks International Customs Day with Launch of Time Release Study Report

Nigeria marked the 2026 International Customs Day with a major milestone for trade facilitation: the official launch of its Time Release Study (TRS) Report. The report reflects the completion of an assessment conducted at the Tin Can Island Container Port in Lagos, one of the country’s most strategic maritime gateways, made possible with support from the WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme (ATFP).

In a virtual message to mark the occasion, WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders congratulated Nigeria on the achievement, describing the TRS as a cornerstone performance measurement tool that supports evidence-based reforms. Noting that the WCO has dedicated 2026 to the theme “Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment”, the WCO Secretary General emphasized that modern Customs administrations must simultaneously safeguard society and facilitate legitimate trade. He highlighted that the TRS is the most effective tool for driving tangible, results-oriented change across borders, which can serve as a catalyst for targeted actions that strengthen economic competitiveness, national safety, and Nigeria’s position in international trade.

Describing the Tin Can Island Port TRS as the most comprehensive clearance-time measurement in Nigeria’s recent history, the NCS Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, observed that the TRS revealed both encouraging realities and uncomfortable truths. While Nigeria has the capacity to clear goods efficiently, delays often stem from not allowing the goods to do so due to manual processes and fragmented coordination. He emphasized that procedural reforms, particularly joint and non-intrusive inspections and coordinated border management, offer great opportunity for improvement – alongside better gate coordination, system interoperability, and a centralized truck-appointment system. Therefore, looking ahead, Nigeria will institutionalize the TRS as a recurring diagnostic tool rather than a one-off exercise, escalate the findings for coordinated action, and pursue continuous reform. He further stressed that initial projections indicate potential clearance time reductions of up to 40%, together with improved revenue performance and significant cost savings for traders.

The NCS Comptroller General, who currently serves as the WCO Council Chair, underlined that Customs cannot reform the ports alone, noting that effective trade facilitation requires synchronized action by terminal operators, shipping lines, partner Government agencies, truckers, brokers, banks, and port authorities.

Speaking at the event, Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria, stated that the TRS contributes directly to the Nigerian President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” by strengthening investor confidence, safeguarding borders, and supporting economic growth; she also commended Customs for its pivotal role in national development. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Finance, added that trade facilitation is central to Nigeria’s ambition to stabilize its macro-economic environment, describing the TRS as both a diagnostic and a strategic instrument to reduce transaction costs, enhance transparency, assure revenue, and boost investor confidence. She emphasized that objective measurement of border procedures enables better decision-making and reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to predictable and competitive trade, including within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Calling on all stakeholders to work closely with Customs, she expressed confidence that effective implementation of the TRS findings would strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness and lift economic outcomes.

Tin Can Island Container Port, Nigeria’s second-largest seaport and one of the busiest in West Africa, plays a critical role in trade, revenue generation, and regional connectivity. The TRS was carried out further to capacity building and technical assistance provided to Nigeria’s National Committee on Trade Facilitation under the WCO ATFP, funded by the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The Representative of the United Kingdom High Commission in Nigeria reaffirmed the UK’s strong partnership with Nigeria under the WCO ATFP and an overall commitment to supporting Nigeria in promoting legitimate trade and shared economic prosperity.

(source: https://www.wcoomd.org/en/media/newsroom/2026/january/nigeria-marks-international-customs-day-with-launch-of-time-release-study-report.aspx)