Akwa Ibom , Customs Agree On Bonded Terminal Establishment To Cut Cost Of Doing Business

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has secured federal approval for a bonded terminal in the state following a meeting with the Comptroller‑General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, at the Customs headquarters in Abuja.

A bonded terminal is an inland customs facility where imported or exported goods can be stored, processed, and cleared under customs supervision without payment of duties until they are moved out for final consumption or re‑export.

In practice, this is expected to reduce the cost of doing business, speed up clearance of goods, and cut unnecessary delays for traders and logistics operators in Akwa Ibom.

Eno said the bonded terminal will help improve the handling of goods and strengthen Akwa Ibom’s position as an emerging aviation and logistics hub, especially around the Ibom International Airport and connected industrial areas.

The administration also framed the approval as part of broader efforts to attract more trade and investment by improving the state’s trade‑facility infrastructure.

The visit to the Customs CG was described as a courtesy call, with both sides agreeing on the need to deepen collaboration between the state and the Nigeria Customs Service.

Officials present included senior customs executives such as Assistant Comptroller‑General Mohammed Shuaibu and the Director of Legal Services, Smart Akande, among others.

In essence, the “bonded terminal approval” is a regulatory green light for Akwa Ibom to establish an inland customs‑controlled logistics node that is expected to ease customs procedures and support trade growth in the state.