The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has started sensitising maritime and trade stakeholders on the transition from the existing Fast Track system to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, with full implementation set for December 2025.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known during a stakeholders’ sensitisation session held on Wednesday in Ikeja, Lagos. Represented by Assistant Comptroller-General Charles Obih, who is the Zonal Coordinator of Zone A, Adeniyi said the AEO system marks a complete shift in how Customs engages with importers, exporters, and other players in the supply chain.
The sensitisation event was themed ‘From Fast Track to AEO: Enhancing Trade Facilitation and Supply Chain Security in Nigeria’. According to the Customs boss, the AEO Programme is not just a replacement for Fast Track, but a major reform aimed at improving Nigeria’s trade environment, boosting economic competitiveness, and strengthening national security through modern, collaborative processes.
The AEO was first piloted in Nigeria in April 2024. Following several months of testing, capacity building, and consultation with industry stakeholders, the national launch of the programme was officially done in February 2025.
Speaking at the event, Adeniyi said, “The AEO system is a new direction for trade facilitation in Nigeria. The theme of this event reflects the focus of our reforms—to support legitimate trade, improve competitiveness, and boost national security through smarter engagement with the private sector.”
He noted that while the Fast Track system had helped compliant importers by speeding up cargo clearance and reducing bottlenecks, it had several limitations, including lack of a legal framework and its inability to adapt to the evolving nature of global trade.
He continued, “For over a decade, Fast Track helped us achieve some level of efficiency, but its shortcomings are now obvious. The AEO programme is a structured, risk-based, and globally recognised model. It is not just a policy change—it is a full paradigm shift.”
The AEO initiative is developed in line with the World Customs Organisation’s (WCO) Safe Framework of Standards. It promotes Customs-to-Business partnerships to encourage a modern system of trade facilitation, risk management, and compliance.
Adeniyi stated that businesses certified under the AEO scheme will enjoy several benefits. These include faster cargo clearance, fewer physical checks, dedicated service desks at ports and terminals, priority during port congestion or disruptions, better dispute resolution mechanisms, enhanced visibility in the supply chain, and international recognition.
“These benefits are not theoretical,” he added. “They will have real impact on businesses, reduce cost of doing business, and encourage compliance.”
Chief Superintendent of Customs, Susan Adamrufan, from the Post Clearance Audit Unit of the Service, explained further. She said that although the Fast Track system focused mainly on speeding up the clearance process, the AEO goes beyond that by introducing full supply chain security.
“The AEO programme covers everything from sourcing raw materials to final delivery. It ensures there’s security and transparency throughout the supply chain—procurement, warehousing, transport, and delivery,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, acknowledged that the Fast Track system contributed to the growth of the manufacturing sector. He was represented by Mr Ope Sunday, an Executive at MAN.
Ajayi-Kadir said, “There’s no doubt Fast Track had its flaws, but it helped manufacturers by reducing delays in clearing raw materials. The migration to AEO is good, but we urge Customs to look into the past challenges we experienced with Fast Track and ensure they are not repeated under AEO.”
The move to AEO is part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, which seeks to simplify and modernise international trade procedures. With the December 2025 deadline approaching, the Nigeria Customs Service is expected to intensify stakeholder engagement, training, and system upgrades.
The success of the AEO programme will depend heavily on collaboration between Customs and the private sector, as both sides work to improve transparency, trust, and efficiency in Nigeria’s trade processes.
