The Federal Government has unveiled plans to implement the National Single Window (NSW) to lower the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports by at least 25 percent.
According to the World Bank, Nigerian port operations are up to 40 percent more expensive than other West African countries due to delays and administrative bottlenecks, resulting in an annual revenue loss of ₦2.5 trillion within the business community.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adeboyega Oyetola, emphasized that the National Single Window system will streamline operations, improve transparency, and reduce delays, cutting costs by at least 25 percent. “By enhancing efficiency and strengthening trade facilitation, the system will ultimately contribute to the overall ease of doing business,” he said.
Oyetola highlighted the government’s commitment to improving multimodal connectivity as a priority to boost trade and reduce transportation costs. He explained that efforts are underway to develop road, rail, and inland waterway links to and from the ports, thereby improving logistics and enhancing trade activities.
The Minister also noted progress in addressing longstanding issues in port operations. “In collaboration with the Lagos State Government, we cleared the age-long Apapa–Tincan–Mile 2 traffic for landside operations and provided tugboats, mooring boats, pilot cutters, bollards, and fenders across all port locations for effective seaside operations,” he stated.
He further revealed that these measures have reduced vessel and truck turnaround times, with the average vessel turnaround time dropping from seven days to five days and truck turnaround time decreasing from ten days to just a few hours. “Our ultimate goal is to make Nigeria the maritime hub of West Africa,” he added.
Oyetola disclosed plans to modernize existing ports, with the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports serving as pilot projects. The modernization will address aged facilities nearing the end of their economic lifespan and improve hinterland connectivity. He also encouraged private-sector participation in developing greenfield ports and other infrastructure projects.
Additionally, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has bolstered its operational efficiency by acquiring two state-of-the-art tugboats, with plans to procure more marine crafts. The government is also finalizing arrangements for the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) to support the shipping sector.
On the establishment of a National Flag Carrier through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the Minister said it would generate employment, reposition the maritime sector, and create revenue streams for the government.
Focusing on the NSW initiative, Oyetola described it as a vital tool for trade facilitation in Nigeria. “The National Single Window system will streamline trade processes by enabling stakeholders to coordinate trade-related transactions across multiple government agencies through a unified electronic platform,” he explained.
The Minister said this digital transformation eliminates redundancies, reduces processing times, and ensures seamless coordination among government and private-sector actors, aligning with the government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” He emphasized that the system would unlock the untapped potential of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, which spans maritime shipping, fisheries, renewable energy, and coastal tourism.
With an expansive coastline of 853 kilometers and a maritime area exceeding 46,000 square kilometers, Nigeria is strategically positioned to leverage its marine resources for sustainable economic growth. However, inefficiencies in port operations, bureaucratic hurdles, and insufficient stakeholder coordination have impeded progress. “The National Single Window system is poised to address these challenges and create an efficient logistics ecosystem,” Oyetola said.
Speaking further, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, stressed that the implementation of the NSW interconnects all stakeholders involved in foreign trade, enabling them to perform trade procedures on a single platform. He explained that the system provides an online environment for government agencies, importers, exporters, commercial banks, carriers, and Customs to coordinate trade operations.
Dantsoho described the NSW system as a global best practice for electronically exchanging information related to sea, air, and land transport, handling billions of tonnes of cargo and over 500 million TEU movements. “This move by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement the NSW will deepen the competitiveness of our ports and position Nigerians to reap greater benefits from global trade,” he noted.
He further explained that the NPA had enlisted the technical guidance of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for deploying the Port Community System (PCS), which serves as a precursor to the NSW. He added that Nigeria’s admission as a member of the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA) places the country among top-class ports in the region, such as Tangier Med Port in Morocco and ports in Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast, and Benin Republic.
“The National Single Window is central to modernizing our trade facilitation processes. The Nigerian Ports Authority has been proactive in embracing ICT technologies to align its internal activities with the NSW’s objectives,” Dantsoho said.
He also emphasized that repositioning Nigerian ports to maintain regional and continental competitiveness requires process reengineering to ensure transparency and seamless data availability. “Our mission is to position Nigeria as the transshipment hub in West Africa. With a population of over 200 million and a strategic location, Nigerian ports have the potential to become the leading transshipment hub in Africa,” he stated.
However, Dantsoho noted that this potential is constrained by infrastructure challenges and competition from neighboring countries developing their port infrastructure. “The upcoming Port Modernization projects aim to bridge this gap and ensure our ports remain competitive,” he said.
While acknowledging the complexity of implementing the PCS, he highlighted that the NPA has been working on the initiative since 2011. “The successful implementation of the Port Community System and the National Single Window will revolutionize Nigerian trade, making our ports globally competitive,” he concluded.
