Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) initiative will roll out Phase 2 of its operations on December 14, targeting export documentation bottlenecks, faster approvals and improved trade facilitation.
The Project Director, Tola Fakolade, announced this on Tuesday in Lagos at a stakeholders’ engagement themed “Unlocking Endless Possibilities: A Comprehensive Outlook on the National Single Window Project”.
He explained that the platform, developed in line with international trade facilitation standards, allows traders to submit documentation once and obtain regulatory approvals through a unified portal.
Fakolade stressed that the initiative would not undermine the mandates, revenue collection responsibilities or jobs of participating agencies, but strengthen inter-agency collaboration.
He disclosed that the platform had processed 169,211 licences, permits and certificates, registered more than 12,000 importers and agents, and onboarded 27 airlines and 20 shipping lines, which have transmitted over 4,000 electronic manifests.
Phase 2 will focus on export documentation, permits and Free Trade Zone operations, with the first batch of agencies going live on December 14. The second batch, which includes Central Bank of Nigeria processes, is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Also speaking, Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone A, Assistant Comptroller-General Frank Onyeka, described the project as critical to Nigeria’s export ambitions, assuring stakeholders of Customs’ continued commitment to training, standardisation and collaboration.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council’s Assistant Director, Patience Apanide, said the new phase would reduce repetitive physical inspections, streamline documentation and improve cargo tracking from farms and factories to the ports.
Meanwhile, NSW Deputy Director and Regional Coordinator Benedict Itegbe disclosed that Nigeria recorded $6.1 billion in non-oil exports, representing 8.02 million metric tonnes of goods, in 2025, while registering more than 8,200 new exporters.
He urged exporters to update their registration details to benefit from the platform.
The engagement attracted more than 500 importers, exporters and maritime stakeholders, underscoring growing industry support for the digital reform aimed at reducing trade costs, eliminating bureaucratic delays and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in global markets.
