The Federal Government (FG) has finalised plans to launch the National Single Window (NSW) platform on March 27.
The move is expected to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and drastically improve the ease of doing business at Nigeria’s borders.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, announced the “go-live” date following a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the State House on Wednesday.
He described the initiative as a “monumental” fiscal reform that will consolidate various trade portals into a single, unified digital gateway.
The NSW platform, a flagship project under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to replace the current system of multiple, disconnected agency windows.
According to NSW Coordinator Tola Fakolade, the first phase of the rollout will introduce full digital processing to reduce physical paperwork and automate the transmission of data to relevant agencies without human intervention.
It also introduced a unified system to identify and mitigate trade risks.
Documents will be uploaded once and shared instantly across all participating agencies, eliminating redundant duplication.
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With only 23 days remaining until the launch, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has been mandated to lead the final implementation phase.
This will include intensive sensitisation for traders, importers, and exporters to ensure they are ready for the transition.
The project has received unanimous backing from Nigeria’s top economic and security heads.
Minister Wale Edun pledged full financial support, calling the project “growth-enabling.”
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso emphasised the need to close Nigeria’s trade facilitation gap with the rest of the world.
Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi hailed the project as a “historic milestone” for the service.
NIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji stressed the importance of political will to ensure a seamless delivery.
The success of the National Single Window relies on the total integration of several key regulatory bodies.
Agencies represented at the final strategy meeting included NPA and NIMASA, NAFDAC, SON, NESREA and FAAN and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NQS).
“We are about to launch a reform that is very transformational in nature,” Gbajabiamila stated, noting that the professional dedication of the Central Bank, Customs, and Revenue Service has been instrumental in reaching this final stretch.
The launch is expected to enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness by reducing the time and cost of cargo clearance, positioning the nation as a more attractive destination for international trade.
