The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reports a significant milestone in its Time Release Study (TRS) survey, with a 42% stakeholder feedback achievement aimed at enhancing cargo clearance and trade facilitation. Area Customs Comptroller Dera Nnadi revealed this development, highlighting the strategic importance of TRS in streamlining customs operations and promoting international trade.

The TRS, launched by Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi on February 8, seeks to improve cargo clearance processes from arrival to physical release. Despite encountering challenges in stakeholder engagement and data collation, NCS remains committed to achieving a comprehensive understanding of customs operations’ efficiency.

Nnadi emphasized the lessons learned from previous TRS attempts, including the need for increased collaboration among relevant agencies and stakeholders. He underscored NCS’s progress in implementing paperless clearance and advancing Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs, highlighting the ongoing efforts to strengthen compliance measures under the new Customs Act.

With the August 2024 deadline looming, NCS aims to expedite stakeholder engagement to ensure timely completion of the TRS survey. The study’s significance in facilitating trade operations underscores the importance of harnessing stakeholder feedback and collaboration to enhance efficiency and transparency in customs procedures.

Aligned with global customs initiatives promoted by the World Customs Organization (WCO), TRS serves as a standardized approach to measuring the total duration of time from goods’ arrival at customs borders to their release. As NCS joins other customs administrations worldwide in embracing TRS, the initiative reflects a commitment to advancing trade facilitation and promoting economic growth.