By Achile Danjuma
The federal government has announced plans to launch the National Single Window (NSW) platform on March 27 as part of efforts to transform Nigeria’s trade system and improve efficiency in cargo processing.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House Abuja, attended by ministers, heads of government agencies and other key officials.
Gbajabiamila described the initiative as a major fiscal reform introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to streamline trade procedures and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global commerce.
“We are about to launch yet another reform by this administration which, in its nature, will be very transformational,” he said. “As the name suggests, it is a single national window as opposed to multiple windows.”
He explained that the meeting was convened to review the level of progress made so far and secure the commitment of relevant agencies to ensure a smooth transition ahead of the launch.
The Chief of Staff also commended the contributions of key institutions involved in the project, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.
Earlier, the National Single Window Coordinator, Tola Fakolade, urged participating agencies to intensify support in the remaining weeks before the platform goes live.
According to him, the first phase of the system will enable online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests and the introduction of a centralised risk management system.
He added that nationwide user training is currently underway, while pilot testing will soon begin to ensure a seamless rollout of the platform.
“Documents will be submitted once and shared with all relevant agencies without duplication,” Fakolade said, noting that cargo manifests would be transmitted electronically to appropriate authorities without human intervention.
The coordinating minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s support for the project, describing it as a growth-enhancing initiative.
“This is a growth-enhancing and growth-enabling project. What is required of the Ministry of Finance, we will definitely do,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the platform aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and would significantly improve trade facilitation in Nigeria.
She noted that the initiative is long overdue and pledged that the ministry would work closely with relevant agencies in the coming weeks to sensitise traders, importers and exporters.
Similarly, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, pledged the bank’s full support, stressing the need for Nigeria to close its trade facilitation gap with other countries.
Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, also called for stronger coordination and political will among stakeholders to ensure successful implementation.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, described the initiative as a historic milestone that would improve engagement with stakeholders and enhance trade efficiency.
At the end of the meeting, Oduwole was mandated to lead the final implementation phase to ensure a smooth rollout of the National Single Window platform on March 27.
Other agencies represented at the meeting included the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Also present were the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.