Nigeria: 27 Airlines, 20 Shipping Lines Integrated in Single Window Platform

What the report says

Nigeria’s National Single Window platform said it has integrated 27 airlines and 20 shipping lines as the federal government continues expanding a digital system meant to streamline trade procedures. The update was disclosed by Tola Fakolade, director of the NSW Secretariat, during a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos ahead of the launch of the project’s second phase. The platform was inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu on April 16, 2024, and is intended to give traders a single electronic channel for submitting documents and securing regulatory approvals.

According to the report by Daily Trust, the system processed N17 billion in payments for importers and handled 169,211 licences, permits and certificates over its first eight months of operation. It also recorded more than 4,000 trade manifests and had over 12,000 registered importers and clearing agents. Agencies involved include NAFDAC, SON and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, with the Nigerian Ports Authority and NIMASA expected to join later this year.

Fakolade said the initiative still faces challenges, including conflicting Harmonised System Codes and overlapping agency requirements, which can create complications for importers. He said the secretariat is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to resolve the issues and plans to upload revised codes soon. The platform also intends to expand training and open more support centres outside Lagos.

Officials from the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and Customs said the second phase should reduce documentation bottlenecks, speed cargo clearance and support non-oil exports by bringing more export-related processes onto one portal.