Customs Service Organises Stakeholders Engagement On One- Stop -Shop Digital platform At Customs Zone C, Port Harcourt

The Nigeria Customs Service says it has organized a stakeholders' engagement on One- Stop -Shop Digital platform to tackle all bottlenecks in relation to Cargo clearance at the ports and to reduce delays.

Industry watchers see it as one of the numerous reforms and modernisation projects embarked upon by the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.  PhD regime to streamline cargo clearance procedures avoid delays and ensure Trade Facilitation.

Launched on Friday, February 13, 2026 in Lagos, the Port Harcourt engagement was to bring to the knowledge of the maritime stakeholders in the Eastern corridor of the economy the new digital Customs platform.

The event which took place Monday, February 16, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, witnessed the gathering of all the Customs Area Comptrollers in Zone C, officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service, critical stakeholders and other sister agencies.

In his keynote address, the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR. PhD represented by the Customs Area Controller, Customs Area 11, Command, Onne Port Harcourt, Comptroller Aliyu Alkali welcomed all the critical stakeholders to the event 

"I warmly welcome you all to this important stakeholders’ engagement on the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) initiative of the Nigeria Customs Service."

The Customs Boss, CGC Adewale Adeniyi noted that the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) was  a centralized operational framework within the Nigeria Customs Service designed to handle all interventions on flagged or non-compliant declarations through a unified and collaborative process involving all relevant Customs Units.

He added that in practical terms, the OSS was meant to eliminate unnecessary duplication of checks, reduce delays, improve transparency, and ensure that all compliance actions were coordinated under one platform.

Continuing he asserted, "Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is important to clarify what we mean by a “flagged” declaration."

The Customs chief emphasized that those red flags might be generated through risk engines, intelligence reports, profiling, or alerts from relevant Customs Units adding that once such a declaration was flagged, it became necessary for Customs to carry out appropriate intervention, examination and verification in line with the law.

The CGC insisted that the  OSS initiative was necessary because it addressed  a major concern often raised by stakeholders—multiple and uncoordinated interventions by different Customs units on the same cargo.

He admitted that if such a situation, was not properly managed, it could lead to delays in cargo clearance, increased cost of doing business, complaints of repeated examinations, miscommunication and procedural conflicts.

He noted that with the OSS in place, all necessary units will come together, review the issue collectively, and reach a coordinated decision on the appropriate action to take.

He assured stakeholders that the initiative was not designed to hinder legitimate trade but to strengthen it. 

"Let me assure all stakeholders that this initiative is not designed to hinder legitimate trade. On the contrary, it is intended to strengthen trade facilitation while ensuring compliance."

The Comptroller General tasked the stakeholders to work for the success of the initiative saying "Distinguished stakeholders, the success of the OSS depends largely on your cooperation."

"We urge all importers, agents, and declarants to ensure that, supporting documents are complete and genuine, prohibited and restricted goods are avoided entirely"

He insisted that compliance was the most effective way to prevent unnecessary delays and avoid cargo being flagged while urging all stakeholders to embrace the One-Stop-Shop initiative as a step in the right direction, noting that it  was  a framework built on collaboration, efficiency, and accountability aimed at ensuring that the port system worked better for everyone even as he thanked them  for their presence,  partnership, and  continued support

Earlier in her welcome address, the  Area 1 Customs Command Port Harcourt Controller, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku has lauded the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD, for his numerous reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigeria Customs Service procedures for effective cargo clearance and trade Facilitation.

She however enjoined all the officers and men of the service and the critical stakeholders to embrace the One -stop- Shop intuitive as such would ensure seamless operations at the Ports , facilitate legitimate trade and help increase revenue generation even as she wished them a fruitful deliberation.

The event featured a paper presentation by Deputy Comptroller of Customs Mustapha Nuhu of the trade Facilitation unit, Tariff and Trade Department Customs Headquarters.  More so, a general overview of the One -Stop- Shop  (OSS)was given by Superintendent of Customs Francis Edejor of Oss implementation Team while Action Points recap was delivered by AC, Lauretta Utubor also of Trade Facilitation Unit, Tariff and Trade Department among others.

Answering one of the questions during question and answer session, Controller, Federal Operations Unit FOU Zone C, Owerri, Comptroller B Balogun said that One -Stop- Shop for now was mainly targeted to the Seaports not on land borders.

He decried the nefarious attitude of some agents who usually truckload contraband goods on Trucks to beat Customs checkpoints and evade duty payment and also bring unwholesome products into the country.

He said such practice was criminal and vowed that his men would arrest such trucks unless an authentic certificate order was presented.

His words: “Several Containers are coming from the Seme and Idiroko borders to this place, such containers must be critically examined. We can't allow them to go unexamined because of One -Stop- Shop. For now, unless in the future, One–Stop -Shop is for the seaports not on the land borders." 

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Chairman African Association of  Professional Freight Forwarders And  Logistics of Nigeria  (APFFLON)  Kolawole Atanda has commanded the initiative of the Nigeria Customs Service saying  it  was a laudable initiative which according to him, would ensure seamless operations while making sure containers are released in record time of 48hrs .

He assured his association's willingness to support the reform even as he cautioned that such laudable project should not be sabotaged.

Other participants were unanimous in accepting the initiative even as they expressed their strong desire to key into it and give maximum support.

Present at the event include all Customs Area Comptrollers in Zone C, ANLCA, NAGAFF, Terminal Operators, Bonded  Terminal Operators,  sister agencies and critical stakeholders in the Maritime industry among others.

By: Bon Peters

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