The Sea and Empowerment Research Centre (SEREC) says institutional discipline, stakeholder integration and legal enforcement frameworks are critical in driving the success of the National Single Window (NSW).
The centre stated this in a policy bulletin issued by its Head of Research, Eugene Nweke on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said Nigeria’s transition into the NSW era, combined with its commitment under African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), represented a defining moment for the maritime and freight forwarding sector.
He, however said it required bold policy action, institutional alignment and stakeholder collaboration.
Nweke said that as Nigeria prepares to transition into a digitally integrated trade environment, it was imperative to align institutional processes with global best practices focused on meeting customers’ needs and mitigating risks.
He said the expected outcome of the implementation of NSW includes seamless digital integration of all trade-related agencies, faster cargo clearance timelines and enhanced transparency and accountability
He, however said that the outcome would only be feasible through the repositioning of Nigeria’s freight forwarding and maritime trade ecosystem in line with emerging global standards necessary for the successful implementation of the NSW regime.
According to him, operational inefficiencies persist in Nigeria’s freight forwarding and maritime trade ecosystem in contrast with global benchmarks, underscoring the urgent need to modernise its trade facilitation architecture.
He also called for efforts to harness the opportunities presented under the AfCFTA implementation framework.
He said AfCFTA presented Nigeria with a unique opportunity to emerge as a regional logistics and trade hub, but it must take drastic measures to improve its trade ecosystem structure.
This, he noted, included port operations, customs clearance processes, transport infrastructure and digital trade systems.
“To achieve this, Nigeria must improve port efficiency and reduce turnaround time, develop export-driven logistics systems and enhance the capacity of freight forwarders to operate competitively across African markets.
“SEREC recommends the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to accelerate port decongestion strategies, deploy a functional Port Community System (PCS) and improve infrastructure and truck management systems.
“The Nigeria Customs Service harmonise cargo clearance processes and reduce multiple alerts, expand advance ruling systems for classification and valuation and deploy intelligence-driven risk management systems.
“The Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy should fast-track implementation of the NSW, develop a National Freight and Logistics Policy and strengthen regulatory coordination and industry oversight,” he said.
He said that modern freight forwarding practice must evolve from a transactional model to a customer-focused, risk-aware service framework.
According to him, freight forwarders are expected to provide transparent and timely communication, ensure compliance with regulatory standards and minimise operational and financial risks as well as deliver value-added logistics solutions.
“Nigeria’s trade future will not be determined solely by cargo volumes, but by the efficiency, transparency and reliability of the systems that drive them,” he said.
