Customs rallies airlines, shipping lines for NSW rollout

“The President has directed the Service to take a bold step forward towards the successful launch of the National Single Window. Airline and shipping line operators remain vital partners in ensuring a seamless transition to the new system,” he said.

Adeniyi noted that collaboration with stakeholders has been instrumental in Customs’ modernisation journey and would remain essential as the Service moves into the implementation phase of the reform.

To ensure a smooth migration to the new digital platform, the Customs chief assured stakeholders that support structures are already being established to address operational challenges that may arise during the transition.

“A help desk with well-trained personnel will be available to address any operational challenges that may arise during the rollout,” he stated.

The engagement followed an earlier awareness programme organised by the Service on March 3, where Customs rallied stakeholders and partner government agencies to align behind the National Single Window initiative.

At the programme, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, DCG Oluyomi Adebakin, described the project as a major milestone in the Service’s ongoing digital transformation agenda.

“This is a national project, but Customs is at the centre of its execution. The success of the Single Window depends on collective understanding and cooperation. We must all appreciate its value because we cannot effectively promote what we do not fully understand,” Adebakin said.

She explained that the Service had been working for months on preparatory activities to ensure that the system framework reflects operational realities across Nigeria’s trade and logistics ecosystem.

Adebakin also reassured officers and industry stakeholders that the introduction of the Single Window would not replace human resources but would instead strengthen institutional capacity through technology-driven processes.

According to her, the platform will enhance efficiency, transparency, and speed in cargo clearance as well as trade documentation procedures across the country’s ports and border points.

Also speaking at the programme, the Director of the National Single Window Project, Tola Fakolade, acknowledged the pivotal role of the NCS in coordinating implementation and stakeholder engagement for the initiative.

“Our number one stakeholder is the NCS. We have maintained a strong and constructive working relationship. Customs’ participation and institutional experience are critical to the success of this project,” Fakolade said.

Industry stakeholders view the National Single Window as a major reform expected to streamline trade processes by integrating multiple government agencies involved in cargo clearance into a single digital platform.

With the Nigeria Customs Service leading coordination and stakeholder mobilisation, the initiative is projected to improve trade transparency, accelerate cargo processing, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness within the global trading system.