National Single Window system to mandate electronic cargo manifest submission as government pushes to modernise ports and boost trade revenue…..
The Federal Government has fixed March 2026 for the official rollout of its long-awaited digital trade platform for air and sea cargo operations.
In a post on X on Tuesday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) disclosed that its Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, working alongside the National Single Window (NSW) team, had engaged industry stakeholders and confirmed the launch timeline.
According to FAAN, all cargo airline operators have been directed by the Minister of Finance to begin submitting air cargo manifests through the National Single Window platform ahead of the formal launch.
Mandatory Digital Manifest Submission
The directive signals a shift toward fully digital documentation in Nigeria’s cargo ecosystem, with authorities aiming to eliminate manual processes that often slow clearance and increase compliance risks.
FAAN said training sessions will be organised before the rollout to ensure operators and relevant agencies are fully prepared to adopt and utilise the new system efficiently.
Speaking on the development, Henry Agbebire, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs, clarified that the digital trade platform extends beyond aviation logistics and will also cover seaport operations.
Tinubu’s Trade Reform Agenda
The National Single Window project was inaugurated on April 16, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu as part of broader reforms aimed at improving trade facilitation and revenue collection.
The NSW is designed as a central electronic portal connecting all government agencies and private sector participants involved in import and export processes onto a single integrated platform.
At its inauguration, Tinubu projected that the initiative could generate up to $2.7 billion annually by improving efficiency, blocking revenue leakages and reducing corruption at Nigeria’s ports.
Port Modernisation Drive
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, had earlier indicated that the National Single Window would go live before the end of the first quarter of 2026 aligning with the March rollout timeline.
Authorities say the digital trade platform is expected to cut bureaucratic bottlenecks, streamline cargo processing, reduce clearance delays and improve transparency across Nigeria’s air and maritime gateways.
If successfully deployed, the system could mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s push to modernise its trade infrastructure and compete more effectively in global logistics networks.
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