The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has concluded a three-day high-level stakeholder engagement in Lagos aimed at achieving a 7-day cargo dwell time across Nigerian ports.
The session, held at the Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa, brought together the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee (PCEC) under the Business Environment Enhancement Programme Accelerator (BEEPA) framework. It followed an extensive “shadowing” exercise where officials observed real-time vessel berthing and cargo clearance Tincan Island and Lagos Port Complex.
PEBEC Director General Zahrah Mustapha emphasized that the initiative is focused on moving past problem identification toward implementing practical solutions.
“Nigeria loses significantly every day due to operational inefficiencies. These are not just numbers; they represent missed opportunities, jobs not created, and delayed economic growth. This reform is about resilience and unlocking the nation’s economic potential,” Mustapha said.
She noted that the framework integrates regulators and private sector stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability, with the ultimate goal of reducing cargo dwell time and improving vessel turnaround.
NPA Managing Director Abubakar Dantsoho reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to PEBEC’s mandate, highlighting ongoing collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to deploy the Port Community System (PCS). The PCS, designed as the digital backbone for Nigeria’s National Single Window, is expected to eliminate manual bottlenecks and synchronize port operations.
The NPA’s reform track record remains strong, having achieved a 100% success rate in PEBEC reforms and ranking 5th among agencies in 2025 with an 84.2% compliance rating.
The outcomes of the engagement are expected to be implemented in the coming months. By closing operational gaps identified during inspections, PEBEC and NPA aim to create a more competitive maritime environment that attracts investment and facilitates seamless trade.