Customs Moves to Hike Licence Renewal Fees for Clearing Agents from 2026
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun formal consultations to review licence renewal fees for Licensed Customs Agents, in a policy shift that could reshape Nigeria’s cargo clearance ecosystem from January 2026.
Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi confirmed the move after a high-level meeting on Thursday with the leadership of 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).
The review, he said, is grounded in Sections 103–107 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and is part of sweeping reforms to professionalise the freight forwarding industry, raise compliance standards, and modernise the country’s trade facilitation systems.
Why the Licence Fee Review Matters
Licenced Customs Agents are the frontline intermediaries in Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy value chain — clearing goods, ensuring documentation compliance, and liaising with multiple regulatory agencies at the ports. Their licence status is more than an administrative formality; it is a gatekeeping mechanism for trade integrity.
Adeniyi said the review aims to:
- Reflect current economic realities and operational costs;
- Weed out non-compliant and unprofessional operators;
- Incentivise high-standard, ethical practices;
- Strengthen border management and cargo clearance efficiency.
From Licence to Leverage: The Compliance Advantage
Under the proposed structure, compliant and fully accredited agents will enjoy premium facilitation benefits — including:
- Faster processing timelines;
- Enhanced engagement channels with customs officers;
- Direct integration with upgraded NCS digital platforms;
- Priority treatment in cargo clearance.
This “carrot-and-stick” approach is designed to reward compliance while discouraging sharp practices such as under-declaration, forged documents, and illicit cargo concealment.
The Bigger Picture: Reforming the Maritime Trade Gateway
The planned fee review is part of the Customs Modernisation and Digitalisation Drive, aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a competitive trade hub in West and Central Africa.
Analysts note that while the review may raise operating costs for some freight forwarders, it could also:
- Filter out substandard operators, raising industry credibility;
- Increase predictability in customs–agent interactions;
- Improve Nigeria’s World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI) ranking;
- Boost investor confidence in the maritime trade corridor.
However, stakeholders warn that poorly calibrated fees could push smaller operators out of business or fuel informal brokerage networks — creating new compliance headaches.
BRANDECONOMY Industry Insight
Licence Renewal Fees review not just a revenue measure — it’s a structural reset. If implemented with transparency, the NCS reform could lift professional standards, close revenue leakages, and align Nigeria’s freight forwarding practices with World Customs Organization (WCO) and International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) best practices.
But without stakeholder buy-in and fair pricing models, the reform risks being seen as yet another cost burden on Nigeria’s already overstretched trade logistics system.
