The African Continental Free Trade Area has said that Nigeria’s implementation of the continental trade framework has moved into an operational phase, with AfCFTA-related procedures now incorporated into the country’s digital trade infrastructure.
This was disclosed by an official involved in the process, who spoke on condition of anonymity, and said the integration forms part of ongoing efforts by Nigeria to align domestic border procedures with its commitments under the agreement.
Central to this effort is the National Single Window, a unified electronic platform designed to bring together documentation, regulatory approvals, and inter-agency workflows into a single digital gateway for traders.
According to the official, AfCFTA-related processes have already been embedded within the architecture of the Single Window, meaning the platform is being configured from the outset to support intra-African trade conducted under the agreement. The source said this reflects a transition from policy and framework development to practical, system-based implementation.
He stated that “Several milestones have been recorded in the course of the work. Trade procedures linked to AfCFTA have been integrated into the Single Window framework, covering documentation requirements, regulatory clearances, and inter-agency coordination that previously required multiple submissions across different offices” he said.
The objective, the official explained, is to establish a single point of entry for trade-related processes and reduce fragmentation in border administration.
In addition, he said authorities have moved to operationalise core trade facilitation reforms. These include end-to-end digitisation of procedures, the introduction of risk-based controls, and improved connectivity among border agencies to limit duplication and delays.
The use of risk management tools, the source said, is intended to allow compliant cargo to move more quickly while enforcement resources are focused on higher-risk consignments.
Customs and border management procedures are also being aligned with AfCFTA requirements, including support for electronic processing and verification of trade documents. This work is being carried out in coordination with the Nigeria Customs Service, which plays a central role in cargo clearance and border controls. The aim, according to the official, is to ensure that digital submission and automated checks become standard practice across ports and border posts.
Meanwhile, the National Single Window project has said the platform is expected to simplify Nigeria’s import and export processes, reduce delays, and eliminate the need for multiple document submissions at ports.
The assurance was given last week in Lagos during a town hall meeting with members of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, where stakeholders were briefed on how the platform will work and what to expect when it goes live in the coming weeks.
Speaking at the event, Tola Fakolade, Director of the National Single Window project, said the initiative was conceived in line with global best practices promoted by the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. He recalled that the idea gained momentum around April 16, 2024, with a clear objective of making Nigeria’s import and export processes easier, faster, and less cumbersome for traders, customs brokers, licensed agents, and freight forwarders.
“The whole objective is how do we make import and export processes simpler for you,” Fakolade said. “The idea is that you will use only one platform for everything you need to do when it comes to import and export.”
According to him, the current system, despite some technological improvements across agencies, still requires users to log into multiple platforms to process permits, declarations, and other documentation. He said the new approach is aimed at consolidating these procedures into a single interface.
“What we are doing now is bringing all of that into one platform,” he said. “You log in once, complete everything you need to do on one platform, and submit all your documents only once. You don’t have to keep re-uploading your bill of lading and other documents on different systems.”
Fakolade said the Single Window is designed to drive simplification, reduce duplication, cut delays, and make trade procedures more transparent and efficient for importers and their agents. He added that the project has been developed over the past 18 months in collaboration with key stakeholders, including customs agents and other private sector operators, noting that industry groups have played a role in shaping the system.
The anonymous official said stakeholder engagement remains a critical part of the current phase of implementation. Relevant government agencies and private sector operators are being involved in system testing, onboarding, and training to prepare for the shift to the new platform. This, the source said, is intended to improve user readiness and reduce potential disruptions when the system becomes fully operational.
The launch of the National Single Window is planned for the end of the first quarter of 2026. In the period leading up to this, attention is focused on final system testing, onboarding of users, and a phased rollout strategy. The source said the phased approach is meant to ensure system stability and allow technical and operational issues to be addressed progressively.
If implemented as designed, the platform is expected to reduce cargo clearance times, lower transaction costs, and improve transparency in trade procedures, in line with AfCFTA’s broader objective of simplifying cross-border trade and reducing non-tariff barriers.
The official acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in the areas of infrastructure reliability, user adaptation, and coordination among multiple agencies. However, the source said Nigeria is now in the final stage of preparation, with AfCFTA processes already embedded in the digital framework and key technical and procedural milestones achieved. The coming months, the official added, will be critical in determining how effectively these reforms translate into practical improvements in trade facilitation and border management.
