Nigeria Begins User Testing For National Single Window Ahead Of 2026 Deployment
The Federal Government has begun User Acceptance Testing for the National Single Window platform with its first group of participating stakeholders, marking a major move toward making the unified and technology-driven trade ecosystem fully operational by March 2026.
According to the technology provider managing the process, the first phase involved guiding stakeholder agencies through onboarding, system navigation and the operational structure designed to streamline Nigeria’s trade procedures. Senior government officials inspected the testing grounds to assess the level of progress made so far.
Key trade and regulatory bodies participated in the opening session, including agencies involved in agricultural inspection, standardisation, environmental regulation, customs operations, and freight forwarding. Importers, exporters and clearing agents were also part of the process. The engagement allowed each organisation to test features, verify system workflows and align expectations ahead of full deployment. With testing now underway, Nigeria moves closer to a fully harmonized trade portal that will unify documentation, cut trade costs and eliminate duplication across ministries, departments and agencies.
During the assessment tour, government officials visited breakout rooms to interact with participating agencies and to understand their experiences with the platform. They expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to a transparent, technology-enabled trade system capable of supporting national economic growth.
At a recent African trade summit in Abuja, the government restated that the National Single Window would be live by March 2026 and that the system will drastically reduce clearance timelines from twenty-one days to under seven. This aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area’s requirements for digital trade and strengthens Nigeria’s ambition to become a continental leader in port automation.
Stakeholder engagements held earlier in Lagos highlighted that the platform follows a global model already deployed in countries such as Singapore, South Korea and Rwanda. In these locations, the system consolidates all trade-related processes into a single digital channel, reduces paperwork and speeds up cargo movement.
Experts emphasized that full implementation in Nigeria could reduce logistics costs by up to thirty per cent, boost competitiveness and attract new investments.
They added that manufacturers would benefit from faster clearance of raw materials and equipment, while small and medium-sized enterprises would gain easier access to trade tools, simplified documentation and fewer hurdles in import and export operations. Freight forwarders would also be able to track consignments digitally with fewer disruptions, improving overall supply-chain visibility.
They explained that the National Single Window is expected to lower the cost of doing business and give the country a stronger position within regional and global trade networks.
