New ICT office for customs signals PTML push for faster cargo clearance

Port and Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML) has handed over a newly built ICT-enabled office complex to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos, in a move aimed at improving operational efficiency, cargo processing and trade facilitation at the Tin Can Island Port corridor.

The facility, located within the PTML terminal inside the Tin Can Island Port Complex, was officially delivered during a ceremony attended by senior management of both organisations and maritime stakeholders.

Speaking at the handover, PTML Managing Director, Ascanio Russo, described the project as part of the company’s commitment to supporting regulatory efficiency and improving working conditions for Customs officers stationed at the terminal.

According to him, the new office was designed as a modern, functional and technology-driven workspace equipped with Information and Communications Technology facilities to support smoother administrative processes and operational coordination.

Russo said the project fulfilled an earlier commitment by PTML to provide additional office accommodation for Customs personnel as cargo volumes and operational demands continue to grow.

“This project reflects our enduring partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service and our shared commitment to improving operational standards at the port,” he said.

“We believe that when regulatory agencies operate in a conducive and technology-enabled environment, they are better positioned to discharge their duties efficiently, ultimately benefiting port users and the wider economy.”

He added that the investment aligns with PTML’s broader infrastructure and digitalisation strategy aimed at reducing cargo dwell time, enhancing productivity and strengthening Nigeria’s ease-of-doing-business agenda.

Receiving the facility on behalf of the Service, Customs Area Controller of PTML Command, Joe Anani, commended PTML for delivering what he described as a timely and impactful intervention.

Anani noted that improved workspaces have direct implications for staff morale, efficiency and overall command performance.

“This is a significant development for the command. A conducive office environment directly impacts operational effectiveness, administrative coordination and officers’ productivity,” he said.

He explained that the new office complex would support Customs’ mandate of facilitating legitimate trade, ensuring compliance and boosting revenue generation through more efficient processes.

Stakeholders present at the event said the development could positively impact cargo clearance timelines, documentation handling and overall coordination between terminal operators and regulatory agencies.

PTML, regarded as Nigeria’s leading roll-on roll-off terminal, plays a strategic role in vehicle imports, container handling and integrated logistics services.

Industry analysts note that continued private sector investment in port infrastructure and digital support systems remains critical as Nigeria pushes to modernise its ports, improve trade competitiveness and reduce logistics bottlenecks across the maritime value chain.