Government says integrated trade platform will cut delays, eliminate duplicate documentation, and boost Nigeria’s global trade competitiveness…..
Nigeria is set to officially roll out the National Single Window (NSW), a digital trade facilitation platform designed to streamline import and export processes across government agencies, on March 27.
The electronic platform will connect key stakeholders involved in cross-border trade to a centralised system, allowing documentation and approvals to be processed through a single interface rather than through multiple government portals.
The initiative is domiciled at the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and forms part of the Federal Government’s broader fiscal reform agenda aimed at modernising trade operations.
Gbajabiamila: Reform Will Transform Nigeria’s Trade Ecosystem
The launch date was announced by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the State House Abuja on Wednesday.
The meeting brought together ministers, heads of regulatory agencies, and other senior government officials involved in Nigeria’s trade and logistics sectors.
In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Gbajabiamila described the project as a major milestone in the administration’s ongoing economic reforms.
“We are about to launch yet another reform, fiscal reform by this administration, which in its nature will be very transformational,” he said.
“As the name suggests, it is a single national window as opposed to multiple single windows. This meeting is to review the progress we have made and get your commitment that we will manage this transition smoothly.”
Final Preparations Underway
Providing an update on the project, Tola Fakolade, the National Single Window coordinator, called on participating agencies to intensify efforts in the remaining weeks before the official launch.
Fakolade revealed that the first phase of the platform will introduce several key digital processes, including:
- Online processing of import permits
- Electronic submission of cargo manifests
- A centralised risk management system for trade monitoring
He added that nationwide user training is already underway, while pilot testing will begin soon to ensure a smooth transition to the new platform.
Under the system, documents submitted by traders will be uploaded once and automatically shared with all relevant agencies, reducing duplication and eliminating manual interventions.
“Documents will be submitted once and shared with all relevant agencies without duplication,” Fakolade explained.
Economic Team Backs Initiative
Several members of the Federal Government’s economic management team reaffirmed their support for the project during the meeting.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the platform’s successful rollout.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, described the initiative as a critical pillar of the administration’s reform agenda, noting that the project had long been overdue.
She also pledged that her ministry would collaborate closely with relevant agencies in the coming weeks to sensitise traders, importers, and exporters ahead of the launch.
CBN, Customs Pledge Support
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, said the platform would help Nigeria close its trade facilitation gap with more advanced economies.
Similarly, Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, called for stronger coordination among agencies and emphasised the need for political will to ensure the project’s success.
Adedeji also proposed that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment lead the final 23-day implementation phase before the launch.
On his part, Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, described the platform as a historic milestone that could significantly improve efficiency in Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
Broad Agency Participation
The meeting also included representatives from several key regulatory bodies involved in trade and logistics, including:
- Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
- Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
- Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
- Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
- Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NQS)
- National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)
At the end of the meeting, stakeholders agreed that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment would lead the final implementation phase in the weeks leading up to the official launch.
Once operational, the National Single Window is expected to reduce delays at ports, improve transparency in trade processes, and enhance Nigeria’s position in global trade rankings.
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