Fresh disagreements have emerged between the Nigeria Customs Service and licensed customs agents over the implementation of the Federal Government’s National Single Window initiative, a digital trade platform introduced to simplify import and export procedures and improve efficiency at the nation’s seaports.
The dispute comes as the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with the National Single Window Secretariat, intensifies preparations for the next phase of the project by engaging stakeholders on the electronic submission of vessel manifests. Customs officials maintain that the initiative is designed to eliminate repetitive documentation, enhance transparency and reduce the time required to process cargo at Nigerian ports.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme, Deputy Comptroller General in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, explained that the exercise builds on consultations held before and after the launch of the first phase of the National Single Window in March 2026. She stressed that the electronic platform is expected to create a seamless trade environment by allowing importers and exporters to submit documents through a single digital portal rather than dealing with multiple government agencies separately...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Despite these assurances, several freight forwarding and customs agents expressed reservations about the current implementation process. They argued that the system has yet to fully address operational bottlenecks at the ports, warning that some procedures remain unclear and could create delays if stakeholders are not adequately carried along. Industry operators also called for broader consultations, improved system integration and continuous training to ensure the platform delivers the efficiency it promises.
The National Single Window is regarded as one of the Federal Government’s key trade facilitation reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s ease of doing business, boosting revenue collection and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in international trade. Authorities believe that once fully implemented, the platform will significantly reduce paperwork, shorten cargo clearance timelines and curb opportunities for corruption within the port system.
As implementation progresses, maritime stakeholders are urging both the Nigeria Customs Service and the National Single Window Secretariat to address the concerns raised by industry operators to ensure the reform achieves its intended objectives. Many believe that sustained collaboration between government agencies and private sector participants will be essential to building confidence in the system and unlocking its full potential for Nigeria’s economy.
