By Dennis Okechukwu
Nigeria is set to launch its long-awaited National Single Window (NSW) platform on March 27, in what officials have described as a major step toward transforming the country’s trade and fiscal environment.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced the date during a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House in Abuja attended by ministers, heads of agencies and other senior government officials.
He described the initiative, first introduced nearly two years ago by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a far-reaching fiscal reform designed to streamline trade processes, improve efficiency and boost Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Gbajabiamila said the National Single Window would replace multiple clearance channels with a unified platform, ensuring smoother coordination among agencies and stakeholders.
The National Single Window Coordinator, Mr Tola Fakolade, urged agencies to intensify efforts in the final 23 days before the “go-live” date. He explained that the first phase of the platform would allow for online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests and the deployment of a centralised risk management system.
According to him, documents will be submitted once and automatically shared with all relevant agencies without duplication or manual intervention. He added that nationwide user training is ongoing, with pilot testing scheduled ahead of the official launch to ensure a seamless rollout.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment, describing the project as growth-enhancing and critical to economic expansion.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, said the initiative is a key component of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and pledged close collaboration with agencies to sensitise traders, importers and exporters ahead of the launch.
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, also pledged the bank’s support, noting the importance of closing Nigeria’s trade facilitation gap with peer nations.
Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, called for stronger coordination and political will to ensure seamless delivery.
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, described the project as a historic milestone and assured stakeholders of full collaboration.
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was mandated to lead the 23-day implementation phase to guarantee a smooth and successful launch.
Other agencies represented at the meeting included the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.