The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has warned that poor implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) newly introduced Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) could disrupt the country’s fast-growing courier and e-commerce logistics sector.

The SOP is for courier companies operating under the Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) Incoterm.

SEREC, in a policy position paper signed by its Head of Research, Dr Eugene Nweke, said the guidelines represent an important step toward strengthening revenue assurance, closing regulatory gaps and aligning Nigeria’s courier and e-commerce operations with international best practices.

However, the research group cautioned that rigid enforcement without adequate preparation could disrupt legitimate trade and weaken local operators.

The paper noted that the SOP derives its legal basis from the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and reflects global standards such as the World Customs Organisation framework and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement.

According to the group, the reform is timely, given the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce and express logistics, which has exposed long-standing weaknesses in Nigeria’s courier operations.

“Historically, DDP courier operations in Nigeria have suffered from weak oversight, under-declaration, shipment fragmentation and ambiguity around declarant responsibility,” the paper stated, adding that these gaps had led to revenue leakages and compliance failures.

SEREC acknowledged that the SOP addresses many of these issues by introducing clearer rules on licensing, declaration, valuation, manifest submission and post-clearance audit.

However, the research body warned that several operational risks could undermine the policy if left unaddressed.

Chief among them is the limited capacity of many courier operators, especially indigenous firms, to meet the technical and compliance demands of the new regime.

SEREC also raised concerns about the centralisation of DDP licensing at Customs headquarters, warning that it could create administrative bottlenecks, delays and higher compliance costs.

On the requirement for advanced electronic manifests, the group said that while the rule aligns with global practice, Nigeria’s logistics environment often involves short booking windows and last-minute consolidations, which could make rigid enforcement disruptive.

The paper further highlighted valuation challenges inherent in DDP transactions, where shipment values are often determined offshore.

Without a clear dispute resolution mechanism, the group warned that the system could lead to valuation conflicts, increased litigation and loss of trader confidence.

To address these concerns, SEREC recommended a phased implementation of the SOP, including a transition period of three to six months and pilot enforcement in selected commands before nationwide rollout.

It also called for mandatory capacity certification for courier operators, decentralised pre-vetting of applications with central oversight, and a tiered compliance structure based on shipment risk and value.

The group proposed the creation of a dedicated valuation review desk within the Customs Service to handle DDP-related disputes and urged the establishment of a standing compliance forum involving Customs, courier companies and other stakeholders.