Review of Customs Agents’ Licensing Fees Underway – Stakeholder Talks Begin

In accordance with Sections 103 to 107 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and as part of continuous reforms to improve professionalism and regulatory efficiency in the freight forwarding industry, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that it has begun consulting with stakeholders regarding a planned review of licensing renewal fees for Licensed Customs Agents.

This information was revealed on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting with 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).

This meeting was the first of several consultation sessions with industry participants to be held prior to the scheduled implementation, according to a statement released by the Nigeria Customs Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Friday.

The licensing of customs agents is still essential to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s cargo clearing procedure, according to Maiwada, an assistant comptroller of customs.

The planned assessment, he continued, was meant to address operational demands, reflect current economic realities, such as the value of currency rates, and guarantee that only agents who satisfy the Service’s compliance, competence, and integrity requirements remain active in the system. Promoting accountability, optimizing procedures, and raising the standard of service delivery in the industry are the goals of this project.

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In order to reorient the NCS to meet the changing demands of border management and international trade, the Service emphasizes that the study is a component of larger modernization initiatives. It is anticipated to establish a more open, dependable, and effective licensing system that would eventually help respectable businesses and the general trading public. The National Image Maker of NCS stated that the new licensing structure will go into effect in January 2026 once stakeholder consultations are finished.

Additionally, according to Maiwada, Licensed Customs Agents who adhere to the new licensing framework will have access to premium facilitation measures, such as expedited processing times, better channels for communication with Customs officers, and improved integration with the Service’s updated digital platforms.

“This compliance-driven incentive is intended to discourage sharp practices and promote adherence to professional standards,” he said.

“The NCS assures stakeholders that it is committed to an inclusive process and that before the review is finalized and put into action, input from industry associations, individual operators, and pertinent government agencies will be carefully considered.” “The Service reaffirms its commitment to equity, openness, and the advancement of a safe, competitive, and effective trading environment in Nigeria,” the Customs image creator said.