FG launches National Single Window to modernise trade, cut delays

The Federal Government on Tuesday unveiled the National Single Window (NSW) project, a digital platform designed to streamline Nigeria’s trade processes, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and improve the ease of doing business.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described the launch as a milestone under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reform agenda.

He noted that earlier attempts to implement a single-window system had not succeeded.

Edun said the initiative represents a shift from fragmented and inefficient trade procedures to a coordinated, technology-driven system.

“We are moving from complexity to clarity, from fragmentation to coordination, and from delay to efficiency,” he said.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, explained that the NSW allows traders to submit all required documentation through a single portal, eliminating the need to engage multiple government agencies.

“It is one portal, one submission, one coordinated process,” she said.

National Single Window Coordinator, Tola Fakolade, disclosed that the platform would go live on March 27, 2026.

The first phase will cover import licences, permits, and certificates for key regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC and SON, while a pilot phase for cargo manifest submissions will begin with selected shipping lines and air cargo operators. Full integration is expected by May 1.

Fakolade added that the system features a risk management framework to assess importers based on compliance history, reducing physical inspections and speeding up cargo clearance.

Payments under the platform will be handled digitally to boost transparency.

Edun, however, warned that the success of the initiative depends on port infrastructure.

“A digital platform alone does not move goods,” he said, noting that ongoing modernisation of major ports is crucial to reducing congestion and realising the full benefits of the reform.

Officials said the NSW is part of a broader strategy to drive sustainable economic growth, with a medium-term target of seven per cent annually.

Stakeholders were urged to adopt the platform, with plans to expand it to cover export processes and integrate additional agencies in subsequent phases.