The federal government has announced plans to implement the National Single Window (NSW) system to reduce the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports by at least 25%.
President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the NSW project in April 2024 to boost trade efficiency. The system will integrate all agencies involved in import and export processes into a single digital platform, streamliningoperations, enhancing transparency, and eliminating delays.
At a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola highlighted the initiative’s impact. “The cost of doing business at Nigerian ports is up to 40% higher than in other West African countries due to delays and administrative bottlenecks, causing an annual revenue loss of N2.5 trillion. The single window system will enhance efficiency and reduce these costs by at least 25%,” he said.
Oyetola also noted improvements in port operations, with vessel turnaround time dropping from seven days to five and truck turnaround time reducing from 10 days to just a few hours. He emphasized that ongoing multimodal connectivity projects—including improved road, rail, and inland waterway links—will further cut transportation costs.
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment Jumoke Oduwole described the NSW as a transformative reform that will redefine trade in Nigeria by centralizing trade documentation, eliminating corruption, and easing business operations. Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite added that the system will attract foreign direct investment and strengthen the naira by enhancing Nigeria’s trade environment.
Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Zacch Adedeji linked the NSW to President Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy by 2031. He noted that Nigeria’s current trade processes are burdened by bureaucracy, increasing costs and reducing global competitiveness. The NSW will create an integrated platform connecting seaports, airports, free trade zones, financial institutions, and the private sector.
Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi acknowledged past failed attempts to implement a single window system due to technological and institutional challenges. However, he stressed the importance of a unified approach, ensuring all stakeholders—government agencies, private businesses, and financial institutions—work together.
The first phase of the NSW project, led by the NSW secretariat, will begin this year with training and testing. Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Abubakar Dantsoho emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that the initiative demonstrates how government agencies can work together for efficient service delivery.
Originally pioneered in Singapore, the NSW system has been successfully implemented in countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Djibouti, and Kenya, leading to reduced clearance times, cost savings, and increased exports. The Nigerian government expects similar benefits as it moves towards full implementation.
