Key government stakeholders on Wednesday met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to review progress and fine-tune strategies ahead of the March 27 launch of Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) platform aimed at transforming the country’s trade ecosystem.
The high-level meeting, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, brought together ministers, heads of agencies and senior government officials involved in trade facilitation and economic management.
Addressing participants, Gbajabiamila described the National Single Window as a monumental reform that will streamline trade procedures, improve efficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
According to him, the initiative—first introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nearly two years ago—forms a key component of the administration’s fiscal reform agenda.
“We are about to launch yet another reform, fiscal reform by this administration, which in its nature will be very transformational,” he said.
“As the name suggests, it is a single national window as opposed to multiple single windows. This meeting is to review the progress we have made and get your commitment that we will manage this transition smoothly.”
Gbajabiamila also commended the dedication and professionalism of institutions driving the project, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Nigeria Customs Service.
Earlier, the National Single Window Coordinator, Tola Fakolade, urged participating agencies to intensify efforts in the final 23 days before the platform’s scheduled “go-live.”
Fakolade explained that the first phase of the platform would enable online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests, and the introduction of a centralised risk management system.
He added that nationwide training for users is already ongoing, while pilot testing will soon commence to ensure a seamless rollout.
“The support that we need from each of the agencies is even more critical now. Documents will be submitted once and shared with all relevant agencies without duplication,” he said, noting that cargo manifests would be submitted electronically and automatically transmitted to relevant agencies without human intervention.
Speaking at the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the project.
“This is a growth-enhancing and growth-enabling project. What is required of the Ministry of Finance, we will definitely do,” he said.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, also pledged full support for the initiative, describing it as a critical pillar of the government’s reform agenda. She said the ministry would work closely with relevant agencies in the coming weeks to sensitise traders, importers and exporters.
Similarly, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, assured stakeholders of the apex bank’s full backing, stressing the need to bridge Nigeria’s trade facilitation gap with other economies.
Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, called for stronger coordination and political will, proposing that the trade ministry lead the final 23-day implementation phase.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, described the initiative as a historic milestone and assured stakeholders of Customs’ full collaboration to guarantee its success.
At the end of the meeting, participants mandated the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to lead the final implementation phase ahead of the March 27 launch.
Other agencies represented 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.
