The Customs Area Controller in charge of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service, Aliyu Gambo, has described the newly launched Time Release Study as a transformative tool that will drastically reduce cargo clearance delays, improve transparency and enhance trade efficiency across Nigeria’s ports and border formations.

According to a statement on Wednesday, Gambo made the remarks while speaking on recent reform milestones of the NCS, adding that the TRS represents a critical pillar in the ongoing modernisation of Customs processes and trade facilitation architecture.

He said the World Customs Organisation-backed initiative will help the service identify procedural bottlenecks, shorten dwell time, strengthen supply chain integrity and align NCS operations with global best practices, “thereby boosting investor confidence and supporting national economic growth.”

The TRS is one of the WCO’s core performance measurement tools, widely deployed by customs administrations globally to improve transparency, predictability and efficiency without compromising security.

He congratulated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi, on the successful celebration of the 2026 International Customs Day, even as he commended the Federal Government for its sustained support for customs reforms and border security.

He described the CGC’s emergence as Chairman of the WCO Council as a historic achievement that has further elevated Nigeria’s standing within the global customs community.

Gambo also highlighted the service’s 2025 revenue performance of over N7.2tn, surpassing its annual target, attributing the feat to disciplined enforcement, improved compliance and sustained institutional reforms.

The FOU A customs boss reiterated that the unit remains at the forefront of intelligence-led enforcement, inter-agency collaboration and post-clearance interventions aimed at securing supply chains and preventing revenue leakages across the South-West corridor.

He reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to supporting the CGC’s reform agenda through professionalism, operational efficiency and strict adherence to global best practices, while urging sustained collaboration among customs officers and stakeholders in the trade value chain to build a modern, efficient and responsive customs administration capable of driving Nigeria’s economic transformation.