The Director of the National Single Window (NSW) Project & Head of Secretariat, Mr. Tola Fakolade, has disclosed that the Federal Government will begin the NSW phase one roll out to selected stakeholders in March 2026.
He stated this yesterday in Lagos at the NSW Stakeholders Engagement Forum jointly organised by the NSW Secretariat and the Nigeria Customs Service.
Fakolade, while giving update on the NSW project to stakeholders, explained that by March 2026, the NSW will streamline trade compliance, reducing bottlenecks and delays to simplify import/export procedures.
He said project will also reduce revenue leakages, attract investments, boost government revenue and ensure economic growth.
Also speaking, the Register of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Igwe, cited studies that shows full adoption of the National Single Window could reduce logistic costs in Nigeria by 25 per cent to 30 per cent.
He lamented that while Nigeria is strategically positioned as the gateway to West and Central Africa, business, including large, multinational, small-scale importers, or local manufacturers, continue to struggle under the heavy burden of high logistic costs, fragmented processes, duplication of documentation, and delays in cargo clearance.
Igwe mentioned that the NSW represents a transformative solution that has been successfully adopted in countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Rwanda, where trade facilitation reforms have yielded measurable gains in efficiency, competitiveness, and investment attractiveness.
He said instead of shippers, freight forwarders, banks, customs, port operators, and other stakeholders working in silos with multiple paper submissions, the national single window will integrate them into one transparent, secure, and interoperable ecosystem.
Igwe aid it will also ensure that importers and exporters can process documentation once, with instant recognition by all agencies.
He added that regulatory approvals, permits, licenses, and inspections are automated and tracked in real time, while payments, compliance, checks and cargo release happen seamlessly with reduced human interface.
“With the NSW, SMEs will have simplified, affordable, and transparent access to trade facilitation tools, enabling them to scale, assess new markets, and formalize their operations.
By ensuring faster clearance of raw materials and machinery, manufacturers can reduce downtime, enhance productivity, and meet market demand without costly delays. For us, the government and the regulators, the national single window provides real-time data on trade flows, revenue, and compliance,” Igwe said.
The President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Jani Ibrahim, said the NSW operation will enhance trade facilitation and promote seamless import and export processes in Nigeria, thereby improving efficiency in international trade.
He added that the gathering presents a valuable opportunity to collaborate, share insights, and forge stronger partnerships that will drive Nigeria’s trade and economic development.
