Customs pledges backing for NAHCO’s Export Centre initiative

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has formally pledged its support to the National Aviation Handling Company’s (NAHCO) emerging Export Centre, revealing plans for a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing efficiency, reducing clearance times, and positioning Nigeria as a competitive export hub. The announcement followed a high-level meeting between NCS leadership and NAHCO officials, during which both parties underscored the mutual benefits of streamlined export procedures and transparent regulatory frameworks.

Located within NAHCO’s Lagos cargo complex, the Export Centre is designed to provide exporters with a single-window platform for handling goods destined for international markets. Its key features include consolidated documentation services, warehousing, cold chain facilities, and integrated inspection bays. Customs authorities, recognizing inefficiencies in current export flows, have committed to assigning dedicated officers and digital processing lines within the Centre to accelerate customs clearance and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.

At the meeting, the Comptroller General of Customs emphasised that simplifying export formalities is essential to attracting foreign exchange, supporting local manufacturers, and reducing post-shipment delays that have long hampered Nigeria’s export competitiveness. He affirmed that Customs would provide logistical support, deploy e-clearance systems, and ensure real-time communication between exporters, NAHCO, and regulatory bodies to expedite cargo movement.

According to Customs management, the collaborative approach will involve training and deployment of specialized export officers focusing on compliance, risk assessment, and authentication at the Centre. By relocating certain customs functions directly into NAHCO’s facility, exporters will no longer need to traverse multiple agencies—removing inefficiencies that add significant time and cost to export operations.

NAHCO authorities welcomed the commitment, pointing out that the Centre’ potential has been limited by fragmented procedures across agencies. They said the planned integration would position the Centre as a modern exporter gateway, increasing throughput capacity and improving service delivery. The company disclosed that the Export Centre currently handles products such as agricultural produce, perishables, and manufactured goods, and expects volumes to rise significantly once Customs presence is institutionalised.

The partnership is expected to build on recent investments in infrastructure and digitalisation made by NAHCO in line with enabling policies under the Federal Government’s Export Expansion Programme. Exporters noted persistent challenges—such as prolonged waiting times, cargo deterioration, multiple inspections, and unpredictable fees. By situating Customs operations within the Centre and leveraging digital documentation, they anticipate major gains in logistics efficiency and export volumes.

Export facilitation experts highlight that Nigeria has been lagging behind peer economies in West Africa, where streamlined export hubs exist. A modern export centre supported by Customs could boost the country’s ranking under indicators such as the World Bank’s Doing Business Report and the United Nations’ Logistics Performance Index. Experts believe the move could improve Nigeria’s non-oil export potential, especially in agricultural, industrial, and manufactured exports.

During the launch ceremony, relevant stakeholders reaffirmed the importance of institutional cooperation. The Customs Comptroller signaled plans to assign at least two senior officers to the Centre on a full-time basis to supervise risk management and valuation processes. Additionally, the agency will install scanners and non-intrusive inspection technologies on site to reduce cargo disturbances and enhance transparency.

NAHCO’s Executive Director highlighted the value of transparent working conditions for exporters. He noted that integrating Customs into the Centre would remove the need for off-site documentation and reduce inner-city transit costs. He also identified this move as part of a broader effort to decongest Lagos ports, optimise airport cargo terminals, and support government trade diversification targets.

At a regional level, the cooperation aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which calls for efficient cross-border export systems. Facilitated clearance channels like NAHCO’s Export Centre, backed by Customs, enhance Nigeria’s readiness to meet intra-African trade demands and support export-led growth in key sectors including food, textiles, agro-processing, and SMEs.

Private sector representatives, including logistics firms, freight forwarders, and producers’ associations, expressed strong support. They anticipate that the Centre’s transformation into a one-stop-shop will reduce turnaround times from weeks to days or hours, depending on product type. Additionally, real-time electronic documentation is expected to cut down errors, reduce manual data entry, and enhance compliance.

Customs officials also revealed plans to launch training workshops for NAHCO staff, freight forwarding agents, and exporters as part of the phased rollout. A specialised IT team will support the integration of the Customs Integrated System (CIS) with NAHCO’s cargo management platform, enabling automatic clearance approvals once conditions are met.

As the partnership moves forward, NAHCO and the Nigeria Customs Service pledged to monitor emerging challenges and calibrate approaches accordingly. They intend to pilot the fully embedded Customs model over the next quarter, using export data metrics to assess improvements in clearance time, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction. A review at the end of the period will determine whether the model should be scaled to other locations across the aviation logistics chain.

 

The commitment by Customs to locate personnel and systems directly within NAHCO’s Export Centre is seen by many as a breakthrough in export facilitation. With more efficient processing, improved transparency, and unified procedures, Nigeria’s exporters have much to gain—and the country may see a turning point in its ability to serve global markets. As the initiative takes shape, exporters, logistics players, and government agencies will be watching closely to see whether the promise of streamlined exports can be realised, fueling industrial growth, foreign exchange earnings, and diversification of Nigeria’s economic base.