The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) today issued a stern two-week deadline to importers and agents handling 905 overtime-lodged cargoes remaining at Lagos ports. The directive aims to streamline port operations and eliminate congestion from long-standing uncollected goods.
In an official notice dated 19 August 2025, Customs authorities stressed that all concerned parties must clear the goods within 14 days—by 2 September 2025—or risk forfeiture .
These cargoes, deemed “overtime” due to prolonged residency at the ports beyond designated clearance periods, are contributing significantly to bottlenecks. The measure reflects the NCS’s intensified efforts to enforce operational discipline, improve asset turnover, and reduce the accumulation of unclaimed imports.
Industry stakeholders are reacting with mixed opinions. Many importers and clearing agents warn that the window may be too tight to arrange payment of tariffs, internal logistics, and other clearance requirements—raising concerns about unintended forfeitures. Others, however, believe the deadline will serve as a necessary catalyst for improving compliance and efficiency in port operations.
Customs officials, on the other hand, assert that the 14-day grace period offers a fair, yet firm, opportunity for clearance. They underscore that it’s both a relief and a final warning to discourage prolonged port occupancy that hinders supply chains and revenue flows.
It’s expected that the NCS will conduct follow-up inspections and begin enforcement actions immediately once the deadline expires.
