Lagos (Nigeria): The Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) Customs Area Command says it has generated N459.8 billion between January and August.
The Customs Area Comptroller, Hauwa Abubakar, disclosed this on Tuesday at the 10th Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMWEEK) 2025 in Lagos.
Abubakar spoke in a presentation titled “Efficient Customs Service and the Development of Africa’s Ocean Economy: The Experience of the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command.”
Represented by Deputy Comptroller Ehiprem Haruna, Abubakar stated that since its inception, the LFTZ Command had achieved remarkable milestones through both free zone activities and port operations.
“As at the end of August, the command has generated the sum of N459.8 billion as revenue to the coffers of the government at Lekki port, which only commenced operations in 2023.
Customs has already demonstrated how efficient clearance procedures and risk management systems can expedite cargo flow while ensuring compliance and security.
“Customs Modernisation Project has also brought about the indigenous Nigerian Customs Unified Management System “B’Odogwu”, which helps to balance trade facilitation with revenue generation and enforcement,” he said.
According to her, Africa’s ocean economy holds immense potential, adding that ports are not just gateways for trade but also engines for industrial growth, regional integration, and global competitiveness.
She explained that, beyond revenue, the command emphasised partnership, adding that it worked closely with the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, as well as free zone administrators and the management of the Lekki Port.
Abubakar further noted that the command also collaborated with sister agencies, including the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Service (DSS), and the Port Health, among others.
She mentioned that the synergy had created a robust environment where no agency worked in isolation and where efficiency is a shared goal.
“We engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, such as the renovation of a local primary school, to demonstrate customs’ role, not only as revenue collectors, but as partners in community development.
“The experience of Lagos free trade zone command teaches us some important lessons for Africa’s broader ocean economy.
” While digitisation and automation are critical, we must expand e-custom’s platforms, integrate data-driven clearance and explore technologies such as blockchain.
“Regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area must be supported by customs harmonisation, and seamless cargo movement will only be possible when our procedures align.
“Public-Private Partnership is essential; the collaboration that built and sustains Lekki port is a model for other African countries.
“There is a need for sustained capacity building, invest in our officers in green port practices and in maintaining integrity in service delivery,” Abubakar said.
She said that they currently operated an efficient customs service that was not just about collecting revenue, but also created an environment where trade flowed freely, investors felt confident, communities benefited, and Africa’s ocean economy could thrive.
Abubakar testified that the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command stood as a living example that when customs worked efficiently, the entire maritime value chain benefited.
Also speaking, Mr Kingsley Igwe, Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding (CRFFN), stated that logistics inefficiencies, weak infrastructure, and high trade costs have continued to limit Africa’s competitiveness in global markets.
Igwe spoke on a presentation, “Innovation Cargo Logistics and Development of Africa’s Ocean Economy”, with the theme: “Our Ocean, Our Sea, Our Obligation”.
He noted that Africa’s coastline stretches over 30,000 km, with 38 coastal states and countless communities, whose livelihoods depend on the sea, adding that the African continent’s ocean economy remains underdeveloped.
“But there is good news. Across Africa, innovation is rewriting the cargo logistics story from digital transformation in ports to integrated multimodal corridors and innovative financing for green shipping.
“These advances are not just technical upgrades; they are a gateway to unlocking Africa’s blue economy.
Africa needs innovations that drive change, such as the Digital Port System, which introduces a single-window platform that ensures tracking, reduces delays, enhances transparency, and cuts costs.
“Another innovation is Green Shipping and Sustainability. With climate change threatening coastal livelihoods, African ports are exploring renewable energy, cleaner fuels and carbon reduction programmes.
“The future of ocean logistics must be climate-smart,” Igwe said.
He called for the establishment of Integrated Corridors by investing in multimodal transport, including road, rail, and inland waterways, to improve cargo flows from landlocked nations to seaports.
He noted that integration remained essential if Africa is to achieve the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He added that the Tanger Med Port in Morocco had illustrated the transformative power of innovation.
Igwe emphasised that Tanger Port was leveraging automation, AI-driven traffic management, and digital logistics chains, which had become one of the most efficient ports in the world.
He said that Tanger’s success was proof that African ports could compete globally when innovation is embraced.
According to him, vessel dwell time can be reduced if the government invests in enabling infrastructure and supportive regulations, while port operators adopt technology and green practices that enhance competitiveness.
He noted that academia and civil society must step up their efforts in building capacity, knowledge, and innovation ecosystems that will sustain Africa’s maritime future.
“The ocean is not just a passageway for trade; it is Africa’s future,” he said.
Igwe said that cargo logistics offered a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build an ocean economy that was inclusive, sustainable and globally competitive.