The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has extended the deadline for all companies operating under the Fast Track Scheme to migrate to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, pushing the earlier cut-off date of December 31, 2025, by an additional one month.
With the new timeline, all outstanding migrations must now be completed on or before January 31, 2026, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada.
The extension follows Customs’ ongoing efforts to strengthen compliance, enhance supply-chain security, and align Nigeria’s cargo management procedures with global trade facilitation standards.
Maiwada said all Fast Track beneficiaries who are yet to initiate or complete their transition are expected to process their AEO applications through the official portal: aeo.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng. He added that the additional time was to ensure that operators meet the programme’s requirements without disruption to import or export activities.
Only companies that complete the certification process will continue to enjoy the facilitation privileges currently attached to the Fast Track Scheme.
According to the NCS, the AEO Programme is a compliance-driven global initiative anchored on the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards. The programme offers incentives such as faster cargo release, reduced documentation, lower inspection levels, and pre-arrival processing, among other benefits intended to improve predictability in cross-border trade.
Officials emphasised that the ongoing migration is backed by Sections 108 to 111 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which make provisions for trusted-trader arrangements and enhanced supply chain oversight.
As part of efforts to ensure a smooth transition, the Service announced that it will hold another broad-based Stakeholders Engagement Forum on December 18, 2025, at the Lagos Continental Hotel. The session will run from 9:00am to 4:00pm, providing hands-on guidance on application procedures, compliance expectations, and the operational structure of the AEO Programme.
Participants at the forum will also engage directly with members of the AEO implementation team, who will address technical concerns and clarify grey areas surrounding certification requirements.
The NCS urged all affected operators to take advantage of the extension and the sensitisation forum, noting that failure to migrate would mean automatic loss of the privileges previously granted under the Fast Track regime.
The statement reiterated that the Service remains focused on promoting a transparent, secure, and predictable cargo-clearance environment, with the long-term aim of improving trade efficiency, safeguarding revenue, and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in global commerce.
