Nigeria Customs Service Launches One-stop-shop (OSS) For Faster Cargo Clearance
Nigeria Customs Service Launches One-stop-shop (OSS) For Faster Cargo Clearance
By Jerry Aguigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the One-Stop-Shop (OSS), a centralised operational framework designed to handle all interventions on flagged or non-compliant declarations through a unified, collaborative, and technology-driven process involving all relevant Customs units.
The Oss enhances trade facilitation, promotes efficiency, and strengthens accountability by enabling joint review, examination, and decision-making in one location. It aims to reduce cargo dwell time to an average of 48 hours per shipment, minimise demurrage costs, and foster transparency across Customs operations.
With the support of the B’Odogwu digital platform, the OSS ensures real-time data sharing, centralised documentation, analytical reporting, and seamless trader engagement through the Customs portal.
OSS was described by the ACG Zone ‘A’, Mohamed A. Babandede as a smarter way to foster efficiency, transparency and collaboration in Cargo clearance.
Heralding the introduction of the One-stop-shop aside ACG Mohammed Babandede were: the Apapa Customs Command CAC, Compt. Emmanuel Oshoba, CAC TinCan Island Customs Command, Compt. Frank Onyeka, CAC PTML, Compt. Joe ANANI, CAC Western Marine Command, Compt. Patrick Ntadi and the CAC Lekki deep Seaport, Compt. Hauwa Abubakar.
Stakeholders present at the launch welcomed the OSS initiative but wondered if the Police, DSS and others who fingered to have constituted bottlenecks are still been incorporated in the new initiative. They also called for the NCS and managers of the OSS to ensure that the Federal Operations Unit vacates its position at the Mile ll axis, where Containers are flagrantly flagged and detained.
The OSS initiative is expected to ensure proper trade facilitation, lessen congestion, cost and make clearance faster, transparent and drive accountability.
It is also expected to eliminate redundant checks and expedite dispute resolution. At this juncture, according to ACG Babandede, all customs units must collaborate to eliminate delays and enhance stakeholders satisfaction across Seaports, Airports and Borders.
All resolutions on the OSS platform must be concluded within 24 hours or escalated to the CAC, after which it goes to the dispute resolution committee and can further be escalated if not resolved, to the NCS Platform. After which the stakeholder can resort to legal action, if he so wishes.
Comptroller Oshoba while giving his closing remarks, pledged that the NCS will continue to support and ensure that challenges are resolved in good time and trade facilitated.
The Nigeria Customs Unified Data platform, B’odogwu is the backbone unto which OSS is built on.
About Post Author
