Customs tops PEBEC trade facilitation ranking as reforms transform cargo clearance
Maureen Aguta
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emerged as one of the country’s highest-performing government agencies in trade facilitation after receiving top marks in the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Compliance Assessment conducted by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
The assessment, released on Friday, recognised the Customs Service for fully complying with the standards prescribed under the Business Facilitation Act and for significantly improving the speed, efficiency and responsiveness of its trade-related services.
Speaking on the report, PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Audu, said the NCS distinguished itself by meeting all compliance requirements while demonstrating notable improvements in the delivery of services to importers, exporters and other stakeholders.
“The Nigeria Customs Service stood out by meeting all the required standards while recording notable improvements in the timeliness and efficiency of its response to trade-related matters,” Audu said.
She noted that the performance reflects the Service’s commitment to promoting a more transparent, predictable and business-friendly trading environment, in line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business reforms.
According to her, the Customs Service’s strong showing is the result of sustained efforts to improve operational efficiency, enhance stakeholder engagement and deploy technology-driven solutions that simplify cross-border trade.
Audu also disclosed that 98 per cent of the 69 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) evaluated under the Business Facilitation Act now meet the required service delivery standards, describing the outcome as evidence that the Federal Government’s reform agenda is yielding measurable improvements across the public sector.
The latest recognition adds to a growing list of reforms implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service under its modernisation programme.
Among the flagship initiatives are the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, which digitises customs processes, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme that fast-tracks cargo clearance for compliant traders, and the Advance Ruling System, which provides importers with binding decisions on tariff classification and customs valuation before shipment.
Industry stakeholders say the reforms have helped reduce cargo clearance delays, improve transparency, minimise human interface and enhance predictability in Nigeria’s import and export processes.
The PEBEC ranking is expected to further strengthen investor confidence in Nigeria’s trade ecosystem as the Customs Service continues to pursue technology-driven reforms aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, boosting revenue collection and improving border management.
The story is written in a newspaper style with a stronger lead, clearer flow, and added context suitable for business and maritime readers.