Nigeria’s Single Window rollout under scrutiny over agency readiness, system gaps

 

Maureen Aguta

As the Federal Government prepares to roll out Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) platform on March 27, maritime stakeholders are raising concerns that poor inter-agency coordination and institutional resistance could undermine the reform.

The NSW is designed to integrate all import and export documentation processes on a single digital platform in order to reduce delays, eliminate duplication and improve transparency at Nigeria’s ports.

However, industry operators warn that without full cooperation from all government agencies involved in cargo clearance, the initiative may struggle to achieve its objectives.

Logistics expert and Chairman/Managing Director of Widescope Logistics International, Dr. Segun Musa, cautioned that the project risks becoming “a shell without content” if agencies fail to fully commit to online processing.

According to him, the success of the platform depends on strict compliance by every agency in the cargo clearance chain.

“Single Window may end up as a jamboree if agencies continue to insist on manual processes. If even one agency refuses to process documents online, consignments will remain trapped at the ports,” Musa said.

He warned that cargo clearance requires multiple approvals and any agency operating outside the digital platform could disrupt the entire process.

Industry stakeholders say Musa’s concerns reflect wider anxiety within the maritime sector over the readiness of regulatory agencies.

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has previously warned that the existence of multiple regulatory platforms across government agencies could undermine the concept of a unified trade portal.

Operators argue that unless all agencies harmonise their processes, delays and operational conflicts could persist despite the new system.

Freight forwarding expert Dr. Kayode Farinto also cautioned against rushing the rollout without resolving technical and operational issues.

He recalled that earlier digital transitions in the port system were plagued by connectivity failures that disrupted cargo declarations and documentation processes.

“Whenever new systems are introduced without adequate testing and stakeholder integration, the industry suffers,” he said, noting that previous disruptions cost operators billions of naira in losses.

Analysts also point to bureaucratic rivalry among regulatory agencies as a major risk to the initiative.

Some agencies are believed to be reluctant to fully integrate their systems due to concerns over data control, operational authority and revenue streams.

Industry observers note that while agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service already operate digital clearance platforms, others still rely heavily on physical documentation.

This disparity in digital readiness, they warn, could slow the integration process.
Despite the concerns, the Federal Government insists the project will transform Nigeria’s trade environment.

Director of the NSW project, Mr. Tola Fakolade, said extensive training programmes are ongoing for importers, exporters, customs brokers and freight associations ahead of the rollout.
End-user training sessions began on February 16 in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other regions, providing stakeholders with hands-on experience using the system.

A transition committee comprising representatives from key agencies—including the Nigeria Customs Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)—has also been established.

Help desks and walk-in centres are equally being set up to support stakeholders during the rollout.

While the initiative is widely regarded as a major trade facilitation reform, stakeholders insist that technology alone cannot fix long-standing inefficiencies at Nigerian ports.

For the National Single Window to succeed, they say, government agencies must fully abandon manual processes and commit to seamless digital integration.

Otherwise, Musa warned, the reform could become “another impressive policy that exists only on paper.”