Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Assistant Comptroller-General Frank Onyeka, The Director, National Single Window (NSW), Dr Tola Fakolade, the Comptroller in Charge of Modernisation, Anyqnwu Fayam, and the The Deputy Director and Regional Coordinator, NSW, Mr Benedict Itegbe, during the stakeholders’ engagement on unlocking endless possibilities:a comprehensive outlook on the National Single Window project held in Lagos on Tuesday
The National Single Window (NSW) project has processed 169,211 import licences, permits and certificates since the commencement of its first phase in March 2026, as the Federal Government prepares to extend the platform to export operations from December 14.
Director of the National Single Window, Dr Tola Fakolade, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ engagement themed “Unlocking Endless Possibilities: A Comprehensive Outlook on the National Single Window Project” held on Tuesday in Lagos.
Fakolade said more than 12,000 importers and agents had registered on the platform, while 27 airlines and 20 shipping lines had been onboarded.
He added that over 4,000 electronic manifests had also been transmitted through the platform, which provides a unified system for processing trade-related documentation and regulatory approvals.
According to him, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) now process all their licences and permits through the NSW platform.
He said efforts were ongoing to address overlapping product regulations through Harmonised System (HS) code mapping in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Explaining the initiative, Fakolade said the National Single Window allows traders to submit documentation once for regulatory approval and receive responses through the same platform, while serving as a central repository for trade data.
He noted that the concept was developed by the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business, the World Trade Organisation and the World Customs Organisation.
Fakolade recalled that President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the project on April 16, 2024, while Phase One commenced on March 27, 2026, focusing on licences, permits, certificates and manifests for import and other trade-related activities.
He emphasised that the platform was not designed to take over the statutory mandates, revenue or responsibilities of government agencies but to strengthen collaboration and improve efficiency across the trade value chain.
On the next phase, Fakolade said Phase Two would focus on exports, including export licences, permits and Free Trade Zone operations.
He explained that the rollout would be implemented in two batches, with the first batch involving agencies responsible for issuing export permits scheduled to go live on December 14, 2026.
The second batch, which includes processes involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2027.
He said lessons from Phase One, particularly in change management, stakeholder engagement, training and technical support, would guide the implementation of the export component.
Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller-General Frank Onyeka, described the National Single Window as critical to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s export transformation agenda.
Onyeka said the processing of over 169,000 licences and permits demonstrated the progress recorded in integrating trade documentation and regulatory processes into a unified system.
He said the Customs Service was exploring every possible avenue to position Nigerian exporters for effective participation in the platform, ensuring that no exporter was left behind.
According to him, the Service would continue to train officers, standardise procedures and strengthen partnerships with licensed agents and port operators to encourage registration and participation in user acceptance and training sessions.
He added that Phase Two would create opportunities for expanded export activities, increase trade value and strengthen Nigeria’s position as an export destination.
Onyeka commended President Tinubu for initiating the project and praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adeniyi, for providing leadership in driving reforms, modernising processes and strengthening institutional collaboration.
Similarly, the Assistant Director, National Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Patience Apanide, said the platform had processed more than 169,000 import licences and permits since March 7, as stakeholders intensified efforts to onboard exporters ahead of Phase Two.
She said the export component would eliminate repeated inspections, harmonise documentation and facilitate cargo tracking from farms and factories to ports, stressing that exporters’ readiness was critical to the success of the initiative.
The Deputy Director and Regional Coordinator, NSW, Mr Benedict Itegbe, said the platform was designed to promote economic prosperity by reducing documentation bottlenecks and simplifying trade procedures.
He described its operating principle as “one portal, one submission and one coordinated process,” noting that NEPC was among the first agencies to commence operations on the platform and had aligned its processes with the NSW Secretariat.
Itegbe disclosed that Nigeria recorded $6.1 billion in non-oil export earnings, representing 8.02 million metric tonnes, in 2025, with more than 8,200 new exporters registered during the period.
He urged exporters to update their registration details and prepare for the commencement of Phase Two rather than wait until the rollout.
The engagement attracted more than 500 stakeholders, including importers and exporters, who commended the NSW leadership for its efforts to modernise trade processes and promote seamless trade facilitation across the country.
