The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Akutah Pius, has expressed strong confidence that the National Single Window (NSW), once fully operational, will significantly enhance transparency and efficiency within Nigeria’s port system.
Dr. Akutah stated that the initiative is designed to tackle longstanding operational bottlenecks caused by the fragmented activities of multiple government agencies currently operating in silos across the nation’s ports.
According to him, the absence of a harmonised digital framework has over the years contributed to delays, duplication of processes and avoidable inefficiencies in cargo clearance and trade facilitation.
He explained that the NSW will foster synergy and coordinated collaboration among relevant agencies by streamlining port procedures into a unified digital platform. The system, he noted, is expected to simplify documentation processes, reduce human interface, and improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Dr. Akutah made the remarks during a meeting organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Shipping Services and Related Matters, chaired by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki.
The NSC boss emphasised that the Council’s statutory role as the nation’s Port Economic Regulator has already contributed significantly to restoring order and improving operational standards in the maritime industry. He added that the implementation of the National Single Window would further consolidate these gains by promoting accountability, predictability and efficiency in port operations.
In his remarks, Hon. Dasuki called for expanded stakeholder engagement to ensure inclusiveness in the implementation process, noting that the National Single Window carries far-reaching implications for the national economy. He stressed the need for broad consultations to guarantee that all critical players in the maritime and trade value chain are adequately carried along.
The meeting underscored the growing momentum behind reforms aimed at modernising Nigeria’s port system and aligning it with global best practices in trade facilitation.
