By Fredrick Ameh
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Area Command, has urged stakeholders in the trade sector to fully adopt the National Single Window platform as part of efforts to modernize Nigeria’s trade processes.
The call was made during a three-day sensitisation programme which commenced on Tuesday, aimed at promoting seamless, transparent, and efficient trade operations across the country.
The programme, organised in collaboration with the National Single Window Project Secretariat, focused on raising awareness, bridging knowledge gaps, and encouraging practical use of the digital platform among traders, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders in the trade ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, PTML Area Controller, Joe Anani, described the National Single Window as a critical national initiative that requires the cooperation of all actors in the trade value chain.
“This is not just a platform for a single agency; it is a national project,” Anani said. “The ongoing sensitisation is essential to safeguard the system and ensure compliance with established standards.”
He noted that enforcement mechanisms have already been put in place to protect the integrity of the platform and urged stakeholders to align fully with its operational requirements.
Also speaking, Comptroller Christopher Fanyam, head of the ICT/Modernisation Unit at PTML, emphasised the importance of sustained awareness following the platform’s rollout to ensure smooth implementation.
He explained that the system simplifies regulatory processes by providing a single digital interface through which users can obtain approvals from multiple government agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“The platform allows users to navigate approvals efficiently, reducing delays and improving documentation processes,” Fanyam said. “Our sensitisation sessions focus on practical aspects such as portal access, feature navigation, and proper documentation, enabling stakeholders to use the system with confidence.”
The National Single Window initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader trade digitisation agenda aimed at improving ease of doing business, enhancing transparency, and boosting efficiency in customs operations.
By integrating multiple regulatory processes into a single digital portal, the platform is expected to reduce procedural bottlenecks and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
As the sensitisation programme continues, the PTML Command reiterated its commitment to advancing digital trade reforms and encouraged stakeholders to actively engage with the platform.
“Digital trade is the future,” Anani added. “Getting on board is not optional, it is essential for efficiency, compliance, and the growth of Nigeria’s economy.”