Nigeria to launch National Single Window for trade March 27
…as Gbajabiamila describes platform as “monumental” reform …agencies intensify preparations ahead of rollout Nigeria will launch the long-awaited National Single Window (NSW) platform on March 27 in a move aimed
...as Gbajabiamila describes platform as “monumental” reform
...agencies intensify preparations ahead of rollout
Nigeria will launch the long-awaited National Single Window (NSW) platform on March 27 in a move aimed at transforming the country’s trade ecosystem and improving efficiency in import and export processes.
Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House, Abuja, attended by ministers, heads of government agencies and other key officials involved in the project.
Gbajabiamila described the initiative as a major fiscal reform under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, noting that it is designed to streamline trade procedures, eliminate duplication of documentation and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global commerce.
In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Mr Bayo Onanuga, Gbajabiamila said “we are about to launch yet another reform, fiscal reform by this administration, which in its nature will be very transformational. As the name suggests, it is a single national window as opposed to multiple single windows”, he said.
The Chief of Staff explained that the meeting was convened to review progress made so far and secure the commitment of relevant agencies to ensure a smooth transition ahead of the platform’s launch.
He commended the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Nigeria Customs Service and other participating agencies for their dedication to the project.
Earlier in his presentation, the National Single Window Coordinator, Mr Tola Fakolade, urged agencies to intensify their support in the final 23 days before the platform goes live.
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Fakolade said the first phase of the project would enable online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests and the introduction of a centralised risk management system for trade documentation.
According to him, cargo manifests will be submitted electronically and automatically transmitted to all relevant agencies without human intervention.
“The support that we need from each of the agencies is even more critical now. Documents will be submitted once and shared with all relevant agencies without duplication,” he said.
He added that nationwide user training for stakeholders is currently underway, while pilot testing will soon commence to ensure the system operates smoothly at launch.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the successful rollout of the initiative.
“This is a growth-enhancing and growth-enabling project. What is required of the Ministry of Finance, we will definitely do,” Edun said.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, also pledged the ministry’s full support, describing the National Single Window as a key component of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She noted that the reform was long overdue and promised that the ministry would work closely with stakeholders to sensitise traders, importers and exporters before the launch.
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, also assured stakeholders of the apex bank’s full backing, stressing the importance of closing Nigeria’s trade facilitation gap with other economies.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji, called for strong coordination and political will to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
He proposed that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment lead the final 23-day implementation phase to ensure seamless delivery of the platform.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, described the National Single Window project as a historic milestone, promising full collaboration with stakeholders to guarantee its success.
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was mandated to coordinate the implementation phase to ensure a smooth rollout of the platform on March 27.
Other agencies represented at the meeting included the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NQS), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
