With the Phase One launch of Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) project scheduled for March 27, 2026, the NSW Secretariat has intensified nationwide end-user training aimed at preparing freight forwarders, importers, exporters and other maritime stakeholders for a seamless transition to the digital trade platform.
The training programme, currently holding at accredited centres in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, has drawn commendations from industry operators who describe it as a significant departure from past government reforms that were often rolled out without adequate user preparation.
In Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest maritime hub, sessions are being conducted at facilities including the Nigerian Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders Academy in Apapa, the National Secretariat of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents in Amuwo Odofin, and the Rockview Hotel in Apapa, among other centres across the state. Participants are given hands-on practical experience with the platform ahead of its official deployment.
National Secretary of Nigerian Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr. Godfrey Nwosu, described the deliberate focus on end-user training as a welcome innovation.
According to him, previous initiatives introduced by government agencies often overlooked the need to equip freight forwarders before launch.
“The NSW has brought a new concept with the end-user training, considering them before the launching of the platform. Before now, other programmes by Customs or government ministries were launched without ensuring that freight forwarders were fully prepared. But the NSW Secretariat has demonstrated the capacity to carry everyone along,” he said.
Nwosu, who disclosed that he had attended three training sessions and participated in earlier User Acceptance Tests, rated the Secretariat’s efforts seven out of ten, noting that the remaining score would depend on the completion of outstanding components before launch.
He added that navigating the system is straightforward, explaining that once a user inputs a Tax Identification Number, company details automatically populate the interface. He also noted that computers and internet access are provided free at the training centres.
Nwosu confirmed that NAGAFF is mobilising its members nationwide in readiness for the March 27 rollout, assuring that the association would not be found wanting when the first phase goes live.
Similarly, the National Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olusegun Oduntan, expressed satisfaction during an observational visit to the training session in Ikeja, Lagos.
He described the programme as practical and impactful, adding that the National Single Window would drastically reduce cargo clearance processing time while enhancing transparency across the supply chain.
“Lagos is the heartbeat of Nigerian trade, and seeing our members mastering this system is encouraging. It will equip them with the practical skills needed to navigate the digital platform. We are fully aligned with the March 27 launch date,” he said.
For many participants, initial apprehension quickly gave way to confidence. A registered freight forwarder, Eucharia Emenjor, admitted she had doubts before attending the session but found the system easy to navigate.
Another participant, Jennifer Okonkwo, described the interface as user-friendly, stating that anyone familiar with operating a smartphone would be able to use the platform effectively. She added that the NSW would significantly reduce paperwork and allow freight forwarders to process transactions remotely from their offices.
Chief of Staff to the NAGAFF President, Fwdr Okey Nerus, described the training as a long-awaited turning point for the industry. He said the platform would enable thousands of stakeholders to simultaneously view declarations once made, thereby reducing physical interactions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), cutting costs, and ensuring seamless cargo tracking.
He urged Customs, freight forwarders, traders and MDAs to fully support the initiative, describing it as a reform that has come to stay.
Another freight forwarder, Mr. Eligho Essiet, highlighted the platform’s potential to eliminate the long-standing “unknown shipper” challenge in cargo clearance at seaports, airports and land borders. According to him, mandatory registration of both importers and freight forwarders on the platform would enhance traceability and accountability within the trade ecosystem.
Also speaking, frontline licensed customs agent and immediate past Sole Administrator of ANLCA, Otunba Babatunde Mukaila, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the political will to drive the project and for situating it under the Nigerian Revenue Service.
Mukaila noted that wide consultations and sustained communication by the NSW Secretariat had built stakeholder confidence. He expressed optimism that the platform would reduce corruption at the ports by promoting transparency and visibility in cargo processing.
He explained that under the Single Window system, alerts placed by agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) would be visible to all relevant parties, ensuring accountability and eliminating arbitrary actions.
Stakeholders further noted that the initiative aligns with global best practices championed by the World Customs Organization (WCO), particularly in promoting transparency, predictability and efficiency in international trade.
With the March 27 launch date drawing closer, feedback from training centres across the country suggests growing optimism within the freight forwarding community. Once cautious about new government platforms, operators now appear increasingly confident that the National Single Window could mark a transformative chapter in Nigeria’s trade facilitation drive.
As Nwosu summed up, the platform is expected to remove bottlenecks, curb revenue leakages, fast-track cargo delivery and enhance the IT capacity of freight forwarders nationwide, signalling what many describe as the dawn of a new era in Nigeria’s trade administration.
