Nigeria Unveils National Single Window Platform for Imports and Exports

“This is a defining moment. We are moving from complexity to clarity, from fragmentation to coordination, and from delay to efficiency,” Edun assured.

Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the NSW would simplify trade procedures and reduce duplication of documentation, and enhance investor confidence.

“In simple terms, it is one portal, one submission, one coordinated process,” she said.

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

_{Source: The Nigerian Economy}