By Bavoriat Clara
In accordance with its statutory mandate under Sections 103 to 107 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and as part of ongoing reforms to enhance professionalism and regulatory efficiency in the freight forwarding sector, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has initiated consultations with key stakeholders regarding the proposed revision of licensing renewal fees for Licensed Customs Agents.
This development was announced by Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, National Public Relations Officer to the Comptroller-General of Customs, during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the NCS Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, 7 August 2025.
The engagement brought together executives from the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), and the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC).
This session represents the first in a series of consultations planned with industry players ahead of the proposed implementation.Licensing of Customs Agents is a vital element in preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s cargo clearance process.
The planned review aims to align fees with current economic realities including exchange rate fluctuations address operational demands, and ensure that only agents meeting the Service’s standards of compliance, competence, and integrity continue to operate. This initiative is designed to promote accountability, simplify procedures, and improve service delivery within the sector.
The NCS stresses that this review is part of a broader modernization agenda to reposition the Service in response to evolving international trade and border management requirements.
The new licensing framework, slated for implementation in January 2026 after thorough stakeholder consultation, is expected to establish a more transparent, predictable, and efficient licensing regime benefiting legitimate operators and the general trading public.
Additionally, Licensed Customs Agents who comply with the updated licensing structure will gain access to premium facilitation benefits, such as expedited processing times, enhanced communication channels with Customs officers, and seamless integration with the Service’s upgraded digital platforms. These compliance-based incentives aim to foster professionalism and discourage unethical practices.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirms its commitment to an inclusive consultation process and assures stakeholders that all feedback from industry bodies, individual operators, and relevant government agencies will be carefully considered prior to finalizing and implementing the new licensing policy.
The Service remains dedicated to fairness, transparency, and fostering a secure, competitive, and efficient trading environment in Nigeria.
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