Maritime experts and industry stakeholders have called for the accelerated deployment of the National Single Window (NSW) and Port Community System (PCS), stressing that their implementation is critical to driving full-scale automation, eliminating inefficiencies, and positioning Nigeria’s ports for global competitiveness.
Speaking during a panel session on digitalization and trade facilitation, at the BusinessDay 2025 Maritime Conference in Lagos on Tuesday, General Manager, ICT at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Gbotolorun Babatunde Ayodele said the authority is investing heavily in automation to tackle persistent compliance and security challenges in port operations.
Gbotolorun noted that NPA has rolled out pilot projects in biosecurity control systems, vessel monitoring, access control, and CCTV infrastructure to enhance environmental and safety compliance. According to him, however, the real breakthrough will come with the harmonization of platforms through the National Single Window and Port Community System.
The NPA General Manager identified funding constraints, infrastructure gaps, and stakeholder resistance as challenges but stressed that partnerships and capacity building were already underway to bridge these gaps.
“The real game-changer will be if we are able to implement the Port Community System and the National Single Window fairly well. It will streamline documentation, reduce duplication, and create transparency across agencies,” Gbotolorun said.
Also speaking the Registrar/CEO of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mr. Kingsley Igwe, emphasized that the inefficiencies of the supply chain directly affect consumer prices in the market, making digital transformation a matter of national importance.
He revealed that the first phase of Nigeria’s National Single Window would begin rollout in the first quarter of 2026, with nationwide sensitization already in progress.
Igwe further commended NPA’s drive towards a Port Community System, saying it would complement the Single Window by reducing congestion, streamlining traffic management, and ensuring only verified, genuine users access the ports. He also urged freight forwarders to upgrade their practices by embracing digital freight models, adopting standardized pricing mechanisms, and complying with customs procedures that align with global best practice.
“The WTO has propagated a global standard for Single Window systems, and Nigeria must fully embrace this if we want to cut costs, reduce illegal charges, and improve ease of doing business,” Igwe stated.
On his part, the Secretary-General of the Abuja MoU on Ports and State Control, Capt. Sunday Umoren, underscored the need for Nigeria’s automation efforts to align with international maritime conventions and security protocols, especially in a region where insecurity has consistently driven up freight rates.
Umoren who was represented by Engr Owolabi warned that insecurity across West and Central Africa continues to drive up freight rates, with significant economic consequences for member states. He acknowledged Nigeria’s efforts to mitigate the situation but stressed that long-term solutions lie in strict compliance with international maritime conventions such as the ISPS Code and ILO instruments.
Highlighting the importance of technology, Umoren called for stronger integration of ICT into regulatory frameworks, ensuring that maritime conventions, instruments, and regulations are embedded in national laws and made accessible to all stakeholders.
“It is important that ICT and regulatory information trickle down to the smallest stakeholder in the industry. Without knowing what the regulations are, you cannot implement them adequately. The Abuja MoU covers 22 West and Central African countries, and harmonization is critical. ICT must be domesticated into our laws so that regulations and conventions trickle down to every stakeholder. That way, the safety and security of ships, ports, and crew are guaranteed,” Umoren said.
The panelists agreed that automation, when backed by policy reforms, agency collaboration, and international compliance, would significantly transform Nigeria’s maritime sector, positioning it as a more competitive hub within the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.
