Customs Explores Inland Waterways to Cut Cargo Costs, Boost Trade
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), North Western Marine Command (NWMC), Lokoja, has engaged trade and industry stakeholders on the development of inland waterway transportation as an alternative for cargo movement and a means of improving trade facilitation across Kogi State and the wider northern region.
The engagement, held at the Command’s headquarters in Lokoja on Friday, October 16, 2026, was themed “Engaging Stakeholders for Effective Collaboration.”
Participants included representatives of the Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Kogi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KOCCIMA), the National Shippers Association, the Nigerian Miners and Sesame Seed Commodity Association, freight forwarders, and officers of the Command.
Speaking at the meeting, the Comptroller of the NWMC, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Nnamdi Agwu, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to operational efficiency, legitimate trade and stronger collaboration with the business community.
Agwu said sustained engagement with stakeholders was essential to improving trade facilitation, addressing operational challenges and supporting economic development through the efficient movement of goods.
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He noted that open communication between the Customs Service and private-sector operators would help identify practical solutions to challenges affecting legitimate trade.
In his contribution, stakeholder representative Edwin Ignaji highlighted Lokoja’s strategic location at the confluence of the River Niger and River Benue, describing it as a potential inland waterway logistics hub capable of connecting agricultural producers, manufacturers and cargo owners to markets across Nigeria.
Ignaji also identified challenges associated with road transportation, including multiple charges, checkpoint delays, storage costs, road accidents, security concerns and poor road conditions.
He said inland waterway transportation could provide an alternative for certain cargo movements, provided adequate infrastructure, navigational reliability, security and commercially viable operating arrangements were established.
“We need sustained engagement among the Customs Service, relevant government agencies, business associations and private-sector operators to determine how inland waterways can be developed to serve the needs of businesses,” Ignaji said.
He stressed that any proposed arrangement must be practical, secure and commercially sustainable to deliver meaningful benefits to businesses and the wider economy.
The engagement underscored the importance of collaboration among the Customs Service, government agencies and private-sector stakeholders in exploring inland waterway transportation as a means of improving logistics efficiency and facilitating legitimate trade.
By PRNigeria
