By MARTHA AGAS

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun consultations with key stakeholders ahead of its planned review of licence renewal fees for Licensed Customs Agents, set to take effect in January 2026.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this in a statement by the service’s spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Friday in Abuja.

As part of the process, Adeniyi held a high-level stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday with executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF).

Other participants included representatives of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) and the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC).

Adeniyi said the meeting was the first in a series of engagements with industry players ahead of the implementation.

He noted that the initiative aligned with Sections 103 to 107 of the NCS Act, 2023, and formed part of ongoing reforms to strengthen professionalism and regulatory efficiency in the freight forwarding sector.

He described the licencing of customs agents as a critical element in safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s cargo clearance process.

According to Adeniyi, the review arms to reflect current economic realities, meet operational needs, and ensure only compliant, competent, and trustworthy agents remain in the system.

“This initiative is aimed at promoting accountability, streamlining processes, and enhancing the quality of service delivery in the sector,” he said.

According to him, the review forms part of broader modernisation efforts aimed at repositioning the NCS to meet the evolving needs of international trade and border management.

He said the review was expected to create a more transparent, predictable, and efficient licencing regime that would ultimately benefit legitimate operators and the trading public.

He added that licenced customs agents who complied with the new licencing structure would enjoy access to premium facilitation measures.

These measures, he said, include faster processing timelines, improved engagement channels with customs officers, and enhanced integration with the service’s upgraded digital platforms.

He said this compliance-driven incentive was designed to encourage adherence to professional standards while discouraging sharp practices. (NAN)

• PHOTO: Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi consulting with Customs stakeholders ahead of the planned review of licencing renewal fees for Licenced customs agents to take effect from January, 2026.