Importers Eye Three-Hour Port Clearance – IMAN

 

The Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has revealed plans to significantly reduce cargo clearance times at Nigerian ports to as little as three hours, a move that could transform the country’s trade and logistics landscape. This development is anchored on the adoption of the National Single Window platform, a digital system designed to streamline import documentation and procedures across multiple government agencies.

Speaking at a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, IMAN officials noted that the new initiative aligns with global best practices and is expected to eliminate the bottlenecks that have long plagued the nation’s port system. They expressed optimism that this technological upgrade would not only reduce clearance delays but also cut the cost of doing business for importers.

According to IMAN’s National Coordinator, Mr. Chukwu Osita, the organization has been working closely with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other regulatory agencies to ensure seamless integration of the Single Window system. “Our goal is to achieve a clearance window of three hours or less for compliant cargoes. We are no longer in the era where containers stay at the ports for days or weeks,” Osita said.

He added that faster clearance would improve turnover for businesses, reduce demurrage charges, and attract more investments to the maritime sector. Importers have long complained about the slow pace of cargo processing, citing unnecessary delays, duplicative procedures, and manual bottlenecks as major constraints.

The National Single Window platform, already in partial operation, serves as a centralized portal for submitting trade-related documents such as customs declarations, permits, certificates, and inspection reports. Once fully operational, it will connect all relevant stakeholders—including customs, port authorities, shipping lines, and clearing agents—enabling real-time coordination and quicker decision-making.

In parallel, the Nigeria Customs Service is also implementing complementary reforms aimed at achieving even faster clearance times. One such innovation is the B’Odogwu system, recently launched at the Tincan Island Port. Designed to operate without network glitches, the system promises to deliver clearance within two hours under optimal conditions.

Customs officials say these reforms are crucial to boosting Nigeria’s trade competitiveness, especially in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “If we want to compete with countries like Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, we must modernize our ports,” said a senior customs officer who attended the meeting.

Industry experts and port operators have welcomed the move but cautioned that technological upgrades must be supported by institutional discipline and transparency. “No matter how efficient a system is, if human interference remains unchecked, delays will persist,” said Mrs. Bola Oladimeji, a freight forwarding consultant. She called for the elimination of physical inspections where possible and the full automation of risk assessment procedures.

Some stakeholders also raised concerns about infrastructure challenges, such as traffic congestion around port access roads and limited scanning equipment. IMAN responded by saying it is working with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to address these concerns and ensure that port environments support faster operations.

To ensure compliance and monitor performance, IMAN announced plans to launch a port efficiency dashboard, which will track the time taken from ship berthing to cargo release. The data will be shared with the public to enhance transparency and accountability.

Importers present at the meeting expressed cautious optimism. Mr. Idris Adebayo, who brings in electronics from Asia, said the reforms are long overdue. “We spend millions in demurrage because containers are stuck in port for no good reason. If this three-hour clearance becomes real, it will save us a lot of money and frustration,” he said.

The push for faster port clearance comes at a critical time for Nigeria, as the government seeks to diversify the economy and boost non-oil revenues. Efficient ports are key to this strategy, enabling exporters to move goods quickly and importers to restock without delays.

If implemented successfully, the three-hour clearance policy could position Nigeria as a logistics hub in West Africa, attracting more cargo traffic and supporting regional trade. For now, importers and stakeholders are watching closely, hopeful that the long-standing inefficiencies at Nigerian ports may finally be on the path to resolution.