The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders has set up a Special Technical Assessment Team to inspect all licensed Customs-bonded warehouses and terminals nationwide,
following repeated complaints from freight forwarders and shippers over poor service and infrastructure.
The inspection will begin on the 15 June 2026, and it is designed to assess operational standards, service delivery, and compliance across seaports, airports, inland container depots, and other approved logistics facilities in all six geopolitical zones.
*What NAGAFF Will Check*
The Technical Team’s Terms of Reference require bonded facilities to meet minimum standards in these areas:
1. *Equipment*: Availability and functionality of cranes, forklifts, Mafi trucks, reach stackers, and other cargo-handling machinery.
2. *Infrastructure*: Quality of empty container bays, examination bays, stacking areas, warehouses, offices, and security systems.
3. *Capacity*: Space availability and utilization levels at each terminal.
4. *Personnel*: Staff strength, operational competence, and customer service quality.
5. *Location & Access*: Strategic location, accessibility, and support services for efficient cargo movement.
6. *Compliance*: Adherence to regulatory, safety, and operational standards for bonded operations.
7. *Technology & Power*: Level of tech deployment and reliability of power supply systems.
*Scope & Timeline*
The exercise covers all modes of transport within Nigeria’s cargo logistics chain. NAGAFF says findings will provide data for policy recommendations, operational upgrades, faster cargo clearance, and improved competitiveness of Nigeria’s trade facilitation sector.
The team will start with Rolling Grazing Bonded Terminal at Km 26, Lagos/Badagry Expressway, Ijanikin, Lagos, on 15 June 2026. NAGAFF described it as one of the most modern logistics centres in Lagos at the moment.
*Key Takeaway for Operators*
Dr. Increase Uche, RFF, Head of NAGAFF Trade Advocacy Committee, noted that most bonded terminals currently do not meet the minimum standard required for licensing as a logistics centre.
He urged operators to use the assessment as a guide to upgrade facilities, comply with regulations, and improve service delivery.
NAGAFF also invited media practitioners to join the inspection to witness the process and outcomes of reports that will be submitted to government for action.
For NAGAFF, the message is clear: bonded warehouses must move beyond licensing on paper to meet practical standards that support trade and protect shippers’ interests.
