By Efe Onodjae

Senior Special Adviser to the President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Pius Ujubuonu, has raised fresh concerns over persistent corruption and multiple checkpoints undermining cargo clearance efficiency at Nigerian ports despite ongoing digital reforms.

Speaking in a stakeholder meeting at Custom Command Apapa and later interviewed by Vanguard, Ujubuonu said the introduction of the National Single Window system was designed to integrate all relevant agencies into one platform to improve transparency and speed up cargo clearance.

He explained that under the system, cargo manifests are transmitted electronically to all security and regulatory agencies, while scanning technology is meant to replace physical examination in most cases.

However, he lamented that the gains of the system are being eroded by what he described as unlawful roadside operations by various security units after goods have been cleared from terminals.

“After proper examination and exit from the port, trucks still face unnecessary stops by agencies including Customs, Police and the Federal Operations Unit (FOU).
“Most of what happens on the roads is corruption. It is about small unofficial payments that disrupt the system.

Ujubuonu questioned the presence of certain enforcement units on port access roads, stating that agencies like the FOU are statutorily meant to operate far from port corridors such as those around Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port. He noted that multiple security agencies, including port Police, anti-bomb squads and the Nigeria Customs Service, already participate in cargo examination within terminals, making further roadside interception unnecessary.

According to him, once goods have been duly exited from the port, they should not be subjected to routine checks except in cases involving serious security alerts.
“The post-clearance audit system is there to verify cargo at destination if needed. Roadside interception only slows down trade,” he said.

He also warned that the growing emphasis on revenue generation by different commands is undermining the broader goal of trade facilitation.
“All units are focused on revenue targets, sometimes at the expense of efficient cargo movement,” he said. While acknowledging the deployment of electronic tracking systems, Ujubuonu said it remains too early to assess their full impact on port efficiency. He called for stronger coordination among agencies and decisive government intervention to eliminate overlapping functions and reduce corruption on port access routes.