FG Targets Seven-Day Port Clearance by 2026

The Federal Government has unveiled a plan to reduce cargo dwell time at Nigerian ports to less than seven days in 2026. This was disclosed in a media brief on Tuesday by the Office of the Minister of Finance, stating that the reform will be anchored on the launch of the National Single Window and ongoing port modernisation. 

The government noted that Nigeria currently records an average cargo dwell time of between 18 and 21 days, which is significantly higher than the global average of four days.

According to the statement signed by Special Adviser Dr. Ogho Okiti, approximately 73 percent of delays at the ports are linked to transaction processes such as documentation, customs procedures, and regulatory approvals. The first phase of the National Single Window aims to address this by introducing a unified digital platform for trade documentation. 

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Alongside the digital reform, the government is also upgrading the Apapa and Tin Can ports, which account for about 70 percent of the nation’s trade volume. Officials say the port upgrades will tackle congestion and inefficient cargo handling, while the digital platform will address documentation bottlenecks. The government explained that both reforms must work together to deliver end-to-end efficiency across Nigeria’s trade value chain.