…As Steering Committee reviews progress, reaffirms commitment to trade reforms

By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Single Window (NSW) Steering Committee to ensure that the long-anticipated digital trade facilitation platform becomes fully operational by the first quarter of 2026.

The President, who issued the directive during the fifth meeting of the Steering Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

Gbajabiamila noted that the recent enactment of Tax Reform Acts, signed into law in June, reinforces the urgency for implementing comprehensive financial and trade reforms to drive Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy.

“It’s important that we stay focused on this project so that we meet our timelines and deliver the results the President expects. This initiative is one of the key transformative pillars of the Renewed Hope Agenda, and it must be implemented commendably,” he said.

Emphasising the pivotal role of the NSW platform, Gbajabiamila explained that the project would streamline import and export processes, bolster investment, improve transparency, and elevate Nigeria’s standing in global trade.

He tasked all participating agencies to refine their targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to meet the Phase 1 deadline.

“I expect that since our last meeting on April 8, 2025, stakeholders have made meaningful progress toward ensuring that Phase 1 of the project goes live as scheduled in Q1 2026,” Gbajabiamila said.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, acknowledged the project’s positive trajectory but stressed the need to shift decisively from planning to execution.

He described the NSW as “a complex but transformational project” and called for enhanced inter-agency collaboration to overcome the remaining hurdles.

Also speaking, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, urged members of the Steering Committee to sustain momentum and meet the Q1 2026 timeline without fail.

Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his consistent support for the NSW project.

“We thank Mr. President for the relentless support. The Single Window is no longer just a vision, it is now enshrined in law. The reward for hard work is more work. We must remain focused,” he said.

Giving a technical update, the Director of the NSW Project, Mr. Tola Fakolade, informed the Committee that all key milestones for the second quarter of 2025 had been successfully achieved.

He added that customisation of the NSW platform had commenced and assured stakeholders of the project’s readiness to meet its launch timeline.

Launched in April 2024, the National Single Window Project is a Federal Government-led digital trade facilitation platform aimed at unifying all agencies involved in import and export processes on a central electronic portal.

The initiative is expected to reduce trade costs, cut delays, and significantly enhance transparency and efficiency at Nigerian ports, contributing to broader national economic growth and competitiveness.

The NSW Steering Committee comprises representatives from the Federal Ministries of Finance, Trade and Investment, the FIRS, and the Nigeria Customs Service, among others.