Nigeria targets 7-day port cargo clearance to cut logistics costs
Nigeria's business reform council aims to slash port clearance times from 21 days to seven, a move designed to reduce corporate logistics costs and close the competitiveness gap with regional rivals.
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has launched a coordinated push to cut the average time cargo sits in Nigerian ports from 21 days to seven. Director-General Zara Audu announced the initiative, noting that overlapping government agencies and unauthorized groups have historically created severe bottlenecks that deter trade.
Prolonged dwell times inflate operating costs for manufacturers and traders, eroding Nigeria's appeal as an investment destination compared to neighbours like Ghana and Benin. Accelerating container clearance directly frees up working capital for businesses and improves supply chain predictability.
To achieve the seven-day target, the government is deploying a National Single Window that unifies relevant agencies onto a single digital platform. “The National Single Window is streamlining all the agencies and placing them on one mainstream software infrastructure that will enable them to coordinate seamlessly in terms of the documentation needed for the import and export of goods,” Audu stated. Joint cargo inspections and scanner-based examinations are replacing manual checks to further speed up vessel turnaround.
These technological upgrades are being paired with strict enforcement along port corridors. PEBEC plans to equip truckers with body cameras to gather evidence against extortion, while authorities will begin arresting and prosecuting violators during planned sweeps in September and October. Illegal checkpoints have already been removed from the Apapa and Tin Can routes.
Beyond the ports, PEBEC is overhauling the legal framework to support smaller enterprises. Small claims courts have been established in all states, allowing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to pursue eligible claims without legal representation. “Business cases should be handled by these special courts, so that such cases can be cleared within a period of 12 months,” Audu said.
Sub-national reforms are being supported by a $750 million World Bank loan program aimed at improving state-level digital connectivity and harmonising taxes. The federal government has also expanded its ReportGov platform to connect companies directly with 69 ministries and departments, guaranteeing a 72-hour response time to operational complaints.
