By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has urged all stakeholders in the nation’s trade and logistics ecosystem to demonstrate collective commitment toward the successful rollout of the National Single Window (NSW) initiative, a unified digital platform designed to simplify Nigeria’s import and export processes.
The call was made by the Zonal Coordinator for Zone ‘A’, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Mohammed Babandede, during the National Single Window Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum held in Lagos.
The event was jointly organised by the National Single Window Project Secretariat and the Nigeria Customs Service, attracting representatives from government agencies, trade associations, and the import-export community.
In his address, ACG Babandede stressed that the effectiveness of the NSW depends on collaboration and adaptability across all sectors involved in trade facilitation.
“The success of this project does not rest on the shoulders of government alone. It requires all of us in this room to play our part, openness to change, willingness to adopt new ways of working, and patience as we navigate the inevitable challenges that come with major transformation,” he said.
He added that enhancing efficiency at Nigeria’s ports would strengthen competitiveness and improve predictability for manufacturers and traders.
“The more we make our ports efficient, the more competitive they become — and stakeholders will be able to predict outcomes better,” he noted.
Also speaking, Director of the National Single Window Project and Head of Secretariat, Tola Fakolade, emphasised the importance of stakeholder engagement as the project approaches its first-phase launch.
“As we get close to launching the first phase of this project, it’s crucial that key stakeholders understand its scope and the impact it will have on their operations,” she stated.
In his keynote address, Registrar and CEO of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Kingsley Igwe, underscored the relevance of the National Single Window to Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He explained that the initiative aligns Nigeria’s trade processes with continental and global standards, enabling efficiency, cost reduction, and improved integration.
“Integrating free trade agreements into the National Single Window system through the B’Odogwu platform of the Nigeria Customs Service will enhance classification accuracy and duty payment efficiency,” Igwe said.
The forum also featured a panel discussion on global benchmarking, inter-agency coordination, and stakeholder cooperation, followed by an interactive question-and-answer session.
The National Single Window platform will enable importers and exporters to submit all required trade documents through a single digital interface connecting all relevant government agencies, thereby reducing bottlenecks in cargo clearance and improving transparency.
The first phase of the project is expected to launch in March 2026, with the second and third phases scheduled for completion before the end of the same year.