Nigeria Set To Unveil National Single Window Platform March 27

Nigeria will officially launch its long-awaited National Single Window (NSW) platform on March 27, marking what the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, described as a landmark reform in the country’s trade and fiscal architecture.

Gbajabiamila made the disclosure during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the State House, Abuja, attended by ministers, heads of key government agencies, and senior officials.

He noted that the initiative, first introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nearly two years ago, represents a major fiscal reform designed to simplify trade processes, boost operational efficiency, and strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

“We are about to launch yet another reform by this administration — one that is transformational in nature,” he said. “As the name implies, it is a single national window, replacing multiple fragmented systems. This meeting is to assess our progress and secure collective commitment to ensure a smooth transition.”

The Chief of Staff commended the professionalism and dedication of participating institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Nigeria Customs Service, among others.

Earlier, the NSW Coordinator, Mr. Tola Fakolade, urged agencies to intensify collaboration in the remaining 23 days before the platform goes live. He explained that the first phase will facilitate online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests, and deployment of a centralised risk management system.

Fakolade disclosed that nationwide user training is already underway, while pilot testing will soon commence to guarantee a seamless rollout. He added that cargo manifests will be electronically transmitted to relevant agencies automatically, eliminating manual intervention and duplication.

“The support from all agencies is even more critical at this stage. Documents will be submitted once and shared across all relevant agencies without duplication,” he stated.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s backing, describing the initiative as growth-enhancing and vital to economic expansion.

Similarly, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, described the NSW as a key pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda. She noted that the reform is long overdue and pledged intensified engagement with traders, importers, and exporters in the weeks ahead.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, also assured the Bank’s full support, stressing the importance of bridging Nigeria’s trade facilitation gap with peer economies.

Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, called for stronger inter-agency coordination and political commitment, suggesting that the Trade Minister oversee the final 23-day implementation phase.

On his part, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, described the project as historic and pledged sustained stakeholder engagement to ensure its success.

At the close of the meeting, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was formally mandated to lead the final implementation phase ahead of the March 27 launch.

Other agencies represented at the meeting included the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.

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