Nigeria’s drive to strengthen its position as a regional trade hub has received a major boost, as the National Single Window (NSW) project enters an advanced implementation stage ahead of its scheduled rollout in March 2026.
The NSW platform, internationally regarded as a key tool for simplifying and harmonising cross-border trade processes, is currently undergoing active testing and configuration.
Speaking recently at the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) retreat in Lagos, Ayokunu Oyeniyi, Head of Change and Stakeholder Management for the NSW, said the system’s benefits will be immediately felt once it goes live.
Delivering a presentation titled “Maximising Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Import and Export Trade,” Oyeniyi who, represented the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, at the event, described the current progress as a turning point, noting that this is the first time Nigeria has produced a functional version of the platform for public and institutional review.
He explained that the NSW is designed as a central digital platform enabling importers, exporters and other trade operators to submit all required documentation once, giving all relevant government agencies simultaneous access.
The system, he said, will reduce duplication, shorten processing times, minimise manual paperwork and improve visibility across the regulatory chain.
According to Oyeniyi, Nigeria’s Single Window is being developed to surpass regional benchmarks, even as countries such as Ghana have operated similar systems for over a decade.
When fully operational, the NSW is expected to cut cargo clearance time to under 24 hours, reduce export processing duration, lower business costs, and improve transparency across trade agencies.
He added that the system will enhance Customs risk management and streamline overlapping functions among regulatory institutions, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), removing long-standing bottlenecks that drive up business costs.
Oyeniyi disclosed the that implementation has accelerated since President Bola Tinubu launched the project phase in April 2024.
“The team has since completed detailed business process analysis, conducted the first User Acceptance Testing with regulatory agencies, and commenced additional testing with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).” He noted.
Further rounds of testing are scheduled for January 2026, while full-scale user training across the trade ecosystem will begin in February.
He also confirmed that the NSW will integrate seamlessly with the Nigeria Customs Service system, preserving internal operations while linking them to the central trade platform.
Government, he noted, is complementing the project with modern cargo scanners, enhanced risk management tools and advanced data intelligence systems to reduce physical inspections and improve cargo monitoring.
Drawing from global examples, he stated that countries operating a single window have reduced export processing times from more than 10 days to as few as two or three.
Nigeria, he said, can achieve similar results within one to two years of full deployment, positioning itself as West Africa’s leading trade hub.
He called for sustained stakeholder engagement and public support as the rollout approaches, assuring that the implementation team is prepared to address emerging challenges and continually optimise the system.
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