By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Federal Government on Tuesday formally unveiled the National Single Window (NSW) project, marking a significant step in its efforts to reform Nigeria’s trade ecosystem, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and improve the ease of doing business.
Speaking at a media briefing, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described the launch as a major milestone under the economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that previous attempts at implementing a single window system had not succeeded.
He said the initiative represents a shift from fragmented and inefficient trade processes to a more coordinated and technology-driven system.
According to him, the platform is designed to reduce the time and cost associated with import and export transactions, while improving transparency and overall efficiency in the system.
“This is a defining moment,” Edun said. “We are moving from complexity to clarity, from fragmentation to coordination, and from delay to efficiency.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the National Single Window would allow traders to submit all required documentation through a single portal, eliminating the need to deal with multiple government agencies.
She noted that the new system would simplify trade procedures, reduce duplication of documentation, and enhance investor confidence.
“In simple terms, it is one portal, one submission, one coordinated process,” she said, adding that the reform would position Nigeria more competitively in regional and global trade.
Providing details on implementation, the National Single Window Coordinator, Tola Fakolade, said the platform would go live on March 27, 2026.
He explained that the first phase of the rollout would cover the processing of import licences, permits, and certificates for key regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC and SON, through the single platform.
Fakolade added that a pilot phase for cargo manifest submissions would commence with selected shipping lines and air cargo operators, with full integration expected by May 1, 2026.
He further disclosed that the system incorporates a risk management framework that enables regulatory agencies to assess importers based on compliance history, a move expected to reduce physical inspections and speed up cargo clearance for compliant traders.
In addition, all payments related to import processes under the platform would be handled digitally, further enhancing transparency and efficiency.
Edun, however, stressed that the success of the initiative would depend not only on the digital platform but also on improvements in physical infrastructure, particularly at the nation’s ports.
He noted that ongoing efforts to modernise major ports were critical to addressing congestion and ensuring that the benefits of the reform are fully realised.
“A digital platform alone does not move goods,” he said, warning that inefficiencies in port operations could undermine expected gains.
The government said the National Single Window forms part of a broader strategy to achieve sustainable economic growth, with a medium-term target of seven per cent annually, driven in part by improved trade facilitation.
Chairman of the National Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, commended the collaboration among government agencies and private sector stakeholders that made the project possible.
Stakeholders at the briefing were urged to adopt the platform and work collectively to ensure its success, as officials disclosed plans to expand the system to cover export processes and integrate more agencies in subsequent phases.
The National Single Window is expected to significantly reduce trade delays, lower transaction costs, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market.
