Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) challenge has processed 156,026 import licences and permits since its launch in March, with greater than 12,000 importers and brokers registered on the platform, as the federal government strikes to increase the digital commerce system to export operations and different essential processes.
Speaking at a media engagement on the Phase One of the initiative in Abuja yesterday, the Director of the NSW Project and Head of Project Secretariat, Tola Fakolade, disclosed that 12,112 importers and brokers have to this point registered on the platform, whereas 5 authorities businesses have been absolutely onboarded for the primary part of implementation.
The platform, launched on March 27, 2026 was designed to streamline commerce documentation and regulatory processes by offering a central digital interface for importers, exporters, delivery strains, airways, freight forwarders and authorities businesses concerned in worldwide commerce.
Besides, the challenge staff mentioned the platform had maintained an total uptime of 99.98 per cent, whereas greater than 8,000 customers had obtained coaching since its launch, stressing that the preliminary part has automated the submission, processing and approval of import licences, permits and certificates for some authorities organisations.
These, it mentioned, embody: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
The growth represents a shift from the earlier system, underneath which companies needed to navigate separate procedures and documentation necessities throughout regulatory businesses earlier than finishing import transactions.
Under the brand new association, purposes and associated funds for the licences, permits and certificates issued by the 4 businesses are processed by way of the central platform.
Fakolade disclosed that SON accounted for 104,956 paperwork processed, whereas NAFDAC accounted for 50,622. In the identical vein, NESREA recorded 398 paperwork, whereas NAQS processed 50.
According to a presentation made by Fakolade, air and sea cargo manifests have additionally been integrated into the system, with airways, air cargo operators and delivery strains anticipated to submit their documentation by way of the platform.
Similarly, Fakolade mentioned 3,596 air cargo manifests had been transmitted by way of the platform by 27 airways, representing full participation among the many airways onboarded. Fifty-six delivery strains transmitted 368 sea cargo manifests, though this represented solely 63.6 per cent of the 88 delivery strains listed within the challenge’s compliance figures.
Also, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have accomplished their readiness necessities however are nonetheless within the strategy of turning into operational on the platform. Their integration for Ships Entry Notice submission is now scheduled to go reside on November 16, the NSW director mentioned.
He identified that the harmonisation of Harmonised System (HS) codes was additionally on observe, following workshops involving regulatory businesses, together with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Fakolade hinted that with the primary part targeted largely on import documentation and cargo manifests, the challenge is now shifting into its second part, which can introduce export-related processes and extra authorities businesses. The second part is scheduled for phased supply between the This autumn of 2026 and the Q1 of 2027.
According to NSW, the primary batch of businesses and organisations anticipated to go reside within the This autumn of this 12 months contains the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment by way of the Federal Produce Inspection Service and the Registered Exporter System, SON, NAFDAC and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
A second batch, scheduled for the primary quarter of 2027, will embody the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs Service, NAQS, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The third part, scheduled for supply between Q3 and This autumn of 2027, will lengthen the platform to extra commerce and regulatory capabilities, the organisation added.
Fakolade famous that the adoption has continued to develop because the March launch, with importers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, airways and delivery strains among the many registered customers.
He defined that the initiative was designed to attach the methods of presidency businesses reasonably than take over their statutory tasks.
“The Single Window is a platform that centralises processes. The Single Window does not take over the role of the agency,” he mentioned.
On whether or not the programme had decreased cargo clearance time, Fakolade mentioned its full impression would turn into clearer after subsequent phases had been carried out.
He defined that the primary part targeted on permits and licences required earlier than items may very well be imported, whereas additional integration with Customs would tackle different levels of the clearance course of, together with cargo declarations.
“We will start seeing the benefit of the Single Window on clearance when the three phases of this project are implemented,” he mentioned.
Fakolade mentioned the challenge would proceed to work with collaborating businesses and stakeholders to enhance compliance, strengthen transparency, and simplify Nigeria’s import and export processes.
Emmanuel Addeh and Aminat Hassan in Abuja
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