Nigeria Targets Seven-Day Cargo Clearance to Boost Trade Efficiency and Competitiveness

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) is intensifying efforts to slash average cargo dwell time at Nigerian ports from 21 days to a mere seven days. This strategic initiative aims to significantly enhance trade efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and bolster Nigeria’s global competitiveness, a move with profound implications for businesses and legal practitioners navigating the nation’s trade landscape.

Princess Zahra Audu, Director-General of PEBEC, revealed these ambitious targets during a recent “Meet the Press” engagement at the State House, Abuja. She identified prolonged cargo clearance as a critical impediment to both imports and exports, noting Nigeria’s disadvantage when compared to neighbouring economies like Ghana and Benin Republic. “We were tasked to try and bring down our cargo dwell time from 21 days to seven days,” Audu stated, underscoring the urgency of the reform.

PEBEC’s strategy involves a multi-pronged approach. Initiatives include coordinated joint inspections, designed to ensure all relevant agencies collaborate efficiently upon a ship’s berthing, thereby accelerating turnaround times. Furthermore, the council is transitioning from physical cargo inspections to scanner-based examinations, a move expected to optimise service delivery and expedite the clearance process. The overarching goal is to ensure containers arriving in Nigeria are processed and released within the seven-day window.

A key pillar of this reform is the National Single Window initiative. This platform consolidates relevant government agencies onto a unified digital infrastructure, streamlining documentation requirements for importers and exporters. PEBEC has also established a committee within the Office of the Vice President to coordinate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) operating within the port corridor, ensuring a cohesive approach to managing the flow of goods.

To further enhance accountability and responsiveness, PEBEC has strengthened the ReportGov platform. Relaunched in June 2025, this platform now serves as a government-wide grievance resolution mechanism, connecting businesses directly with 69 business-facing MDAs. Businesses can escalate challenges and expect responses within 72 hours. Physical ReportGov kiosks have been deployed at major airports and seaports to bring government services closer to the business community.

At the subnational level, PEBEC is actively supporting the activation of ease-of-doing-business councils to foster federal-state coordination, drive public service digitalisation, and facilitate the establishment of one-stop business centres. The council is also collaborating with the World Bank on the State Action Business Environment Reform Programme (SABA), a $750 million fund aimed at assisting states in accessing loans for implementing reforms in areas such as digital connectivity, land administration, and tax harmonisation.

Recognising the critical needs of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), PEBEC has overseen the establishment of small claims courts in all states. These courts offer accessible dispute resolution mechanisms, allowing MSMEs to pursue claims without necessarily engaging legal counsel. The council is also promoting alternative dispute resolution and specialised commercial courts to ensure swift resolution of business-related disputes.

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