Nigeria’s port stakeholders have warned that unless deep-rooted structural gaps, overlapping agency roles and persistent digital system failures are addressed, the National Single Window (NSW) scheduled for rollout in March 2026 may struggle to deliver the seamless trade facilitation it promises.
The concerns were raised at the 10th Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists and the launch of the Centre for Maritime Media and Capacity Development in Lagos, organised by First Mediacon Network Limited (FMNL) where operators stressed that the NSW cannot succeed unless the port ecosystem is reorganised to support it.
Former Acting National President of ANLCA and Chief Executive Officer of Wealthy Honey Investment, Dr. Kayode Farinto, said Nigeria risks repeating the painful mistakes of past digital transitions if the underlying structural and inter-agency issues are not resolved. He highlighted the failures of the B’Odogwu platform, describing it as a “homegrown idea that ended up complicating trade rather than facilitating it.”
Farinto recounted how his company could not clear a single container for three consecutive weeks due to system failures, including unsynchronised payments, missing Form M, and PAAR requests that could not be retrieved.
“If you say you are facilitating trade, what about the additional cost? Importers are the ones suffering it,” he said.
He also criticised the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for continuing to charge between N3,000 and N7,000 per container for examinations, despite issuing SONCAP certificates offshore. “SON is not a revenue agency; their role is conformity assessment. These extra charges discourage trade and encourage circumvention,” he warned.
Farinto stressed that the NSW must avoid inheriting the same structural weaknesses — multiple agency platforms, duplicated processes, arbitrary inspections, and fragmented cargo clearance windows — that currently plague the port system.
The Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Segun Oduntan, said that despite the NSW concept, operators still contend with numerous regulatory agency platforms, alongside multiple internal systems covering enforcement, scanning, gate operations and cargo clearance.
Represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Suleiman Ayokunle, Oduntan recalled previous digital rollouts that led to a complete shutdown of cargo evacuation for nearly three weeks. While acknowledging that such teething problems are common with technology-driven reforms, he warned that without proper coordination, the economic consequences could be severe. He cited recurring disputes between the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Maritime Police as examples of costly overlaps that the NSW must resolve to deliver real efficiency.
Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, represented by Dr. Uche Increase, called for globally recognised documentation standards, questioning whether PAAR and current verification processes align with modern single-window frameworks. He also urged the elimination of Form M for goods where it is unnecessary.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Senior Partner at Akabogu and Associates, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, SAN, noted that Customs sits at the heart of the National Single Window framework but observed that over the years, Customs, importers and exporters have not operated in sync at the nation’s ports. Akabogu stressed that without alignment and shared responsibility among these key actors, the NSW may struggle to achieve its objectives.
Responding to the concerns, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, clarified that NSW does not eliminate Customs’ statutory responsibilities. He explained that all import and export bids must still go through full Customs procedures, including post-clearance audits.
“The Nigeria Customs Service is fully engaged in the NSW project. Our ICT team is working closely with the NSW development team,” Maiwada said.
He acknowledged that the initial rollout of B’Odogwu experienced challenges, including cyberattacks and system inconsistencies, but noted that the platform has improved substantially since its pilot deployment.
“The B’Odogwu we started with in PTML is not the same B’Odogwu we have today. There have been substantial improvements, and we continue to refine it,” he assured, appealing for stakeholder patience.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’ Headquarters, ACG Mohammed Babandede, commended the organisers on the launch of the Maritime Media and Capacity Development Centre. He reaffirmed that Customs is fully integrated into the National Single Window project and will commence implementation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for the first quarter of 2026.
Despite these assurances, stakeholders emphasised that technology alone cannot guarantee NSW success. They argue that Nigeria must urgently streamline agency roles, harmonise operational procedures, eliminate duplications, and strengthen coordination across the port ecosystem.
With less than three months to the 2026 rollout, operators say the adjustments needed to support the NSW are significant — and the window to act is rapidly closing.
