The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has said that the establishment of Lagos Free Zone (LFZ) Green Channel would make Nigerian ports more competitive and reduce the cost of doing business.
Adeniyi made this known during the inauguration of the LFZ Channel at Ibeji-Lekki, in Lagos, on Wednesday.
He said that port competitiveness would culminate in higher revenue collection for customs.
Adeniyi said that, from past experience, at bigger ports, due to lack of coordination, customs officers faced challenges while searching for containers that were positioned for examination.
According to him, the Green Channel intervention will help in moving containers, right from the vessel into a dedicated places, where customs officers could have access to them.
Adeniyi said a container moving to the Green Channel could be monitored physically, adding that the service was convinced that the initiative should be given the opportunity to manifest.
“Customs trade facilitation is to ensure that they reduce the time of doing business in Nigerian ports, and what you are seeing today speaks exactly to that.
“The channel is to ensure that container laden vessels are brought down immediately, and are taken to the place where examination will be done,” he said.
Adeniyi said that the inauguration was a product of trust, adding that “our stakeholders have trust in us, and the confidence that we also have in them, that they will do it with the spirit of compliance and trade facilitation.”
Explaining how the Green Channel works, he said the cargo would link a modern sea port, and be discharged directly to a free zone through an expedited customs corridor, while the channel creates a truly port ecosystem.
The Managing Director, Lagos Free Zone, Mrs Adesuwa Ladoja, in an address of welcome, lauded the Nigerian Customs Service for the initiative, which she said, would enhance trade facilitation and operational efficiency.
“Approval of the Green Channel by the Nigerian Customs Service is a testament to the confidence reposed in Lagos Free Zone as an organisation that is deeply committed to the progress of ease of doing business in Nigeria.
“We believe that this collaboration with Lekki Port, Lekki Freeport Terminal and Nigeria Customs Service is evidence of the strong collaboration between the private and public sector in Nigeria which is improving cargo flow, transparency, and ease of doing business in Nigeria,”Ladoja said.
Also speaking, the Director, Finance and Operations, LFZ, Mr Ashish Khemka, disclosed that it had been impacting the Nigerian economy positively.
Khemka said that the zone also contributed a lot to revenue generation in 2025, adding that it was the biggest port in Nigeria.
He said the zone was facing the challenges of reality, understanding and more support, and pleaded with government regulators to help in enhancing the nation’s economic progress.
Khemka said that the Green Zone had also created 10,000 jobs, and occupied 10 per cent from the 15 per cent actual space available at the ports.
“Camera will be used by the customs to monitor the container movement. The Green Channel is recognised globally because it helps in having access to the port and the zone.
“Green channel can earn a lot of revenue, increase trade facilitation, improve freight and put Nigeria on the global map,” he said.
The Controller, Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), Hawa Abubakar, said the Green Channel provided Lagos Free Zone companies with a decisive operational advantage by enabling cargo to move seamlessly from vessel to factory or warehouse through a secure , customs controlled rooted.
Abubakar said that with the establishment of Green Channel cargo clearance would reduce from 24-48 hours to a matter of hours with the final reconciliation completed at the zone.
She added that the the channel would also improve production planning, reduce inventory holding requirements, and optimise the deployed working capital.
“Green Channel will enhance competitiveness for manufactures and exporters and will serve time-sensitive for regional and global market,” she said.
