The Nigeria Customs Service has inaugurated the Lagos Free Zone Green Channel, a designated logistics corridor aimed at accelerating cargo movement between the Lekki Deep Seaport and the Lagos Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
Inaugurating the initiative, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Wale Adeniyi, assured stakeholders in the maritime sector that the Green Channel would significantly reduce cargo clearance time and lower the cost of doing business at the nation’s seaports.
Dr. Adeniyi explained that the new system directly addresses longstanding bottlenecks in port operations by streamlining procedures and cutting down delays associated with cargo examination and clearance.
According to him, containers discharged from vessels at the Lekki Deep Seaport will now be immediately routed through the dedicated Green Channel for examination under a more efficient and controlled process.
He noted that the initiative replaces what he described as cumbersome and time-consuming procedures previously required to access examination bays, adding that it reflects growing trust between Customs authorities and investors operating within the Free Zone.
Responding, the Managing Director of the Lagos Free Zone, Mrs. Adesua Ladoja, described the Green Channel as a strategic logistics corridor that will enable faster and more seamless cargo transfers between the seaport and the Free Zone.
Mrs. Ladoja said the initiative provides companies operating within the Lagos Free Zone with a competitive advantage, as goods can now move directly from vessels to factories or warehouses through a secure, Customs-controlled route.
Stakeholders believe the development will enhance trade efficiency, strengthen investor confidence, and position Lagos as a major hub for maritime and industrial activities.