The Nigeria Customs Service has launched an automated clearance process for overtime cargoes in a bid to ease congestion at the country’s seaports.
The system is designed to speed up the removal of consignments that have stayed too long at the ports and to create space for incoming shipments.
The initiative was introduced during a sensitisation forum in Lagos, where the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, explained that the new process will replace manual clearance methods with a digital system. The goal is to reduce delays, improve transparency, and make port operations more efficient.
Cargoes left uncleared for more than 30 days will now be automatically moved to the office of the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs for clearance. If they remain uncollected after three months, they will be transferred to the Headquarters for condemnation. After 120 days, such cargoes will be sent to the disposal stage once the legal requirements are completed.
According to Customs, the approach is not focused on raising revenue but on managing cargo flow more effectively and reducing the space occupied by abandoned goods. The Service explained that when goods reach the disposal stage, their condition and level of depreciation will be considered before assigning them a final value.
The Customs Comptroller-General noted that a large portion of complaints and inquiries received by his office relate to overtime cargoes. The new automated process is expected to address these concerns and provide a more structured system for handling goods that remain uncleared at the ports.