Nigeria will launch the long-anticipated National Single Window (NSW) platform on March 27, a move expected to simplify import and export procedures and improve the efficiency of the country’s trade ecosystem.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced the planned launch during a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House in Abuja attended by ministers, heads of government agencies and senior officials involved in the implementation of the project.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Gbajabiamila described the initiative, first introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nearly two years ago, as a far-reaching reform designed to streamline trade processes, eliminate duplication and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global commerce.
“We are about to launch yet another reform by this administration which, by its nature, will be very transformational,” he said.
“As the name suggests, it is a single national window as opposed to multiple windows. This meeting is to review the progress made so far and ensure that the transition is managed smoothly.”
The Chief of Staff commended the commitment of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Nigeria Customs Service and other participating agencies working toward the rollout.
Earlier, the National Single Window Coordinator, Mr Tola Fakolade, urged agencies to intensify their support in the remaining 23 days before the platform goes live.
Fakolade explained that the first phase of the system will enable online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests and the introduction of a centralised risk management system aimed at improving compliance and reducing delays.
He said nationwide training for users is already underway while pilot testing will begin soon to ensure the system functions effectively when deployed.
According to him, cargo manifests will be submitted electronically and automatically transmitted to relevant agencies without human intervention.
“The support we need from each of the agencies is even more critical now. Documents will be submitted once and shared with all relevant agencies without duplication,” Fakolade said.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the project, describing it as a major growth-enabling initiative.
“This is a growth-enhancing and growth-enabling project. What is required of the Ministry of Finance, we will definitely do,” Edun said.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, also reiterated the ministry’s full support, describing the initiative as a critical pillar of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said the project was long overdue and pledged that the ministry would work closely with relevant agencies over the next three weeks to sensitise traders, importers and exporters ahead of the launch.
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, also pledged the bank’s full support, stressing the importance of closing Nigeria’s trade facilitation gap with other countries.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, called for stronger coordination and political will to ensure successful implementation, proposing that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment lead the final 23-day implementation phase.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, described the National Single Window project as a historic milestone and assured stakeholders of the Nigeria Customs Service’s full cooperation.
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was mandated to lead the final implementation phase to ensure a smooth and successful launch on March 27.
Agencies represented at the meeting, apart from the Nigeria Customs Service, included the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Other participating agencies were the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.
