The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened consultations with industry stakeholders over a planned increase in licensing renewal fees for customs agents as part of a wider push to modernise operations and tighten professional standards in the freight forwarding sector.
Under its powers in the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the Service on Thursday met 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) at its Abuja headquarters. The meeting was the first in a series of sessions to be held ahead of the proposed January 2026 rollout.
Customs officials said the review would reflect current economic realities, including currency fluctuations, while ensuring that only competent, compliant, and integrity-driven agents remain in operation. The overhaul is also aimed at streamlining processes, promoting accountability, and raising service quality in the sector.
The licensing of customs agents is seen as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s cargo clearance system, and the NCS says the new regime will be more transparent and predictable, with benefits for legitimate operators and the wider trading public.
Under the proposals, agents meeting the new compliance requirements will gain access to premium facilitation, such as faster processing times, improved engagement with officials, and deeper integration with upgraded digital systems—measures designed to encourage high professional standards and curb malpractice.
The Service stressed that the reform process will be inclusive, with feedback from associations, individual operators and relevant agencies feeding into the final decision. It pledged fairness, transparency and a commitment to building a secure, competitive and efficient trading environment.
