The Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) Customs Area Command says it generated ₦459.8 billion between January and August.

The customs area comptroller, Hauwa Abubakar, disclosed this on Tuesday at the 10th Lagos International Maritime Week (LIMWEEK) 2025.

Ms 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, Ms Abubakar stated that since its inception, the LFTZ Command had recorded remarkable achievements through both free zone activities and port operations.

“As of 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,” she said.

She explained that the command worked closely with the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, with free zone administrators, and the management of the Lekki port.

Ms 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 State Security Service (SSS), and 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.

Ms Abubakar said the command renovated a local primary school to demonstrate the customs’ role, not only as revenue collectors but as partners in community development.

She said that presently, they operated on an efficient customs service that was not just about collecting revenue but also created an environment where trade flowed freely, investors felt confident, communities benefitted, and Africa’s ocean economy could thrive.

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.

Mr Igwe spoke on a presentation, “Innovation in 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 numerous communities whose livelihoods depend on the sea, adding that the African continent’s ocean economy remains underdeveloped.

Mr Igwe said that across Africa, innovation is rewriting the cargo logistics story, from digital transformation in ports to integrated multimodal corridors and smart financing for green shipping.

He stressed that Africa needs innovations driving 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,” Mr Igwe said.

He called for the establishment of integrated corridors by investing in multimodal transportation, including roads, rail, and inland waterways, to improve cargo flows from landlocked nations to seaports.

Mr Igwe added that the Tanger Med Port in Morocco was leveraging automation, AI-driven traffic management, and digital logistics chains and 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 regulation while port operators adopt technology and green practices that enhance competitiveness.

(NAN)