By Obinna Uballa
Top Nigerian officials, including Wale Edun, Olayemi Cardoso, and Zacch Adedeji, have pledged their full commitment as the country prepares to launch its national single window (NSW) digital trade platform on March 27.
The initiative, domiciled at the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), is an electronic portal designed to integrate all agencies and stakeholders involved in import and export processes, streamlining trade procedures and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, announced the launch date on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House in Abuja, which was attended by ministers, agency heads, and other key officials.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president, Gbajabiamila described the NSW as a “monumental” step in transforming Nigeria’s trade ecosystem. He noted that the initiative, first launched by President Bola Tinubu nearly two years ago, represents a far-reaching fiscal reform aimed at improving efficiency and modernizing trade administration.
“We are about to launch yet another reform, fiscal reform by this administration, which in its nature will be very transformational,” Gbajabiamila 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 secure your commitment to manage this transition smoothly.”
User training ongoing, pilot testing to begin soon
Tola Fakolade, NSW coordinator, urged participating agencies to intensify support in the final 23 days leading up to the launch. The first phase of the platform will enable online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests, and the introduction of a centralized risk management system.
“Nationwide user training is ongoing, and pilot testing will soon begin to ensure a smooth rollout,” Fakolade said. “Cargo manifests will be submitted electronically and transmitted automatically to relevant agencies without human intervention. The support we need from each agency is even more critical now. Documents will be submitted once and shared with all relevant agencies without duplication.”
Officials reaffirm support
Edun, coordinating minister of the economy and minister of finance, reiterated his ministry’s commitment to the project. Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade and investment, described the initiative as a critical pillar of the administration’s reform agenda and pledged collaboration with agencies to sensitize traders, importers, and exporters in the coming weeks.
Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), highlighted the need to close Nigeria’s trade facilitation gap with other countries. Adedeji, chairman of the NRS, called for strong coordination and political will to ensure successful implementation and proposed that the minister of industry, trade and investment lead the 23-day implementation phase.
Bashir Adeniyi, comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), described the project as a historic milestone and pledged continued engagement with stakeholders to ensure a successful rollout.
Other agencies represented at the meeting included the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
At the conclusion of the meeting, the minister of industry, trade and investment was formally mandated to lead the implementation phase ahead of the March 27 launch.
