By Joshua Yousouph
The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) have launched a User Experience Diary to enhance transparency and accountability in cargo clearance processes, as stakeholders intensify efforts to support the effective rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) initiative as it goes live today in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The initiative, championed by the CRFFN in collaboration with MACN and the Convention on Business Integrity (CBi), was announced in Lagos on Thursday at a high-level stakeholders’ engagement ahead of the National Single Window launch today (Friday).
The User Experience Diary is designed as a real-time reporting tool that allows freight forwarders, agents, and other operators to document their experiences across the cargo clearance value chain, providing actionable data to regulators and policymakers.
In his opening speech, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of CRFFN, Mr. Kingsley Igwe, said the engagement was convened to align stakeholders and ensure a shared understanding of the National Single Window framework and its expected impact on trade facilitation.
He noted that the diary, a Complaint and Feedback Portal, will help capture inefficiencies, infractions, and operational bottlenecks in real time, thereby supporting reforms aimed at eliminating fragmentation and reducing delays in cargo clearance.
According to him, the initiative is part of a broader Integrity Alliance involving CRFFN, MACN, and CBi, aimed at strengthening transparency, professionalism, and accountability within the freight forwarding industry.
Also speaking, MACN’s Lead for West and Central Africa, Maria Gowon, emphasized that the success of reforms in Nigeria’s ports has historically depended on collaboration and digital reporting.
She explained that structured reporting systems have transformed isolated complaints into credible data, enabling authorities and stakeholders to identify patterns, address systemic risks, and implement targeted interventions.
Gowon stressed that the introduction of the User Experience Diary extends this approach to the land side of operations, empowering freight forwarders—who are closest to operational challenges—to contribute to evidence-based reform.
“Without data, there is no evidence, and without evidence, there is no basis for reform,” she said, urging stakeholders to actively utilise the reporting tools.
Providing further insight, the Chief Executive Officer of CBi, Soji Apampa, underscored the importance of data and collective action in driving meaningful change within the sector.
He revealed that reported cases of extortion involving Nigerian port officials have significantly declined over the years, dropping from 266 incidents in 2019 to just 28 cases last year, a development he attributed to sustained transparency and reporting efforts.
According to him, interventions driven by MACN and its partners have also helped industry players save over $300,000 in avoided extortion demands, demonstrating the practical impact of data-driven reforms.
Apampa stressed that fragmentation within the cargo clearance system remains a major challenge, noting that disjointed processes and lack of coordination continue to increase costs, delay operations, and discourage compliant operators.
“Fragmentation is a gift to discretion, and discretion is the mother of delay,” he said, warning that without unified action, inefficiencies will persist.
He called for the establishment of an Integrity Alliance Technical Platform that brings together all stakeholders—including regulators, associations, and private sector operators—to align on standards, share data, and drive coordinated reforms.
Apampa also urged widespread adoption of data tools developed by MACN and CBi, including the User Experience Diary, noting that collective reporting is critical to building credible evidence for policy engagement.
“If only one group supplies the data, it will be dismissed as biased. But if the entire ecosystem supplies the data, it becomes undeniable,” he stated.
Apampa further warned that delays in reform and lack of coordination could make Nigeria less competitive, as cargo and investment could shift to neighbouring countries with more efficient trade systems.
Earlier, the Director of the National Single Window, Tola Fakolade, described the platform as a unified digital interface that integrates multiple government agencies into a single entry point for trade-related processes.
He explained that the NSW will eliminate the need for multiple platforms, enable single submission of documents, and enhance transparency through harmonised data sharing and centralized risk management.
Fakolade who was represented by the NSW Stakeholder and Change Lead, Mr Ayo Ojeniyi added that the government aims to reduce cargo clearance time from the current 12 to 21 days to 24 hours in the medium term, while also lowering costs and improving efficiency across the trade ecosystem.
Stakeholders at the event who were drawn from various Freight Forwarding associations, Transport Unions and the Private Sector in their Goodwill messages agreed that the success of the National Single Window and associated tools like the User Experience Diary will depend on sustained collaboration, active participation, and a strong commitment to transparency.
They noted that the initiative represents a significant step toward building a more efficient, accountable, and globally competitive cargo clearance system in Nigeria.
