Now Reading: Customs Launches Automated Overtime E-Clearance to Tackle Port Congestion
-
01
Customs Launches Automated Overtime E-Clearance to Tackle Port Congestion
Customs Launches Automated Overtime E-Clearance to Tackle Port Congestion
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has rolled out a new automated overtime e-clearance system to speed up cargo clearance and ease congestion at the nation’s ports.
Announcing the initiative on its official X account on Wednesday, the NCS said the platform was developed to process long-standing overtime cargo more efficiently, reduce manual interference, and cut opportunities for corruption.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who led a sensitisation exercise in Lagos, said the system allows consignees to submit and track applications remotely, eliminating repeated visits to customs offices.
“We are more interested in removing these cargoes from our ports rather than managing them as overtime. Everything we have tried to do is to make our processes more efficient, so that the cost and time it takes to clear these cargoes will be reduced,” he said.
Adeniyi warned against deliberate abandonment of cargo, saying the service will impose tougher sanctions on importers who evade duty payments. He cited a 15-year-old overtime cargo case still under investigation as an example of the loopholes the platform seeks to close.
The Comptroller-General directed the Zone A Coordinator to engage terminal operators and shipping companies to ensure smooth implementation of the platform. Senior customs officials, including ACJ Mohamed Babandede, hailed the move as a step toward transparency, accountability, and faster turnaround times.
Terminal operators and shipping lines present at the event pledged support, noting that the system would reduce congestion and improve efficiency in cargo handling.
Over time, cargoes are consignments that remain uncleared beyond stipulated timelines, leading to terminal congestion, higher storage costs, and delays. The NCS recently extended clearance timelines to 120 days, from 30 days at airports and 90 days at seaports, before unclaimed goods are disposed of.
In January 2024, Customs upgraded its e-auction portal to improve transparency in the disposal of abandoned goods. The new e-clearance system, combined with the extended window, is expected to reduce abandoned consignments and streamline trade logistics nationwide.
