Maritime lawyers under the aegis of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA) has warned that the National Single Window project could face serious implementation setbacks without an urgent legal framework to back it.
The association therefore called for the immediate enactment of a standalone law to drive the National Single Window initiative, warning that the absence of clear legislation could weaken enforcement, create operational loopholes and frustrate efforts to streamline cargo clearance at the nation’s ports.
Speaking at the association’s fourth maritime industry breakfast meeting in Lagos, NMLA President, Mike Igbokwe, SAN, said the project requires a strong statutory foundation either through a dedicated Act of the National Assembly or amendments to existing laws such as the Business Facilitation Act.
According to him, relying on implementation without an enabling law exposes the initiative to possible legal disputes and administrative confusion.
Igbokwe noted that there is currently no clearly defined legal structure outlining how the system should operate, which agency should coordinate it or the framework guiding its implementation.
He described the situation as worrying, especially as aspects of the project appear to have commenced despite the lack of legislative backing.
“We believe it is better to have legislation in place before implementation. But what we are seeing now is that implementation has started without an Act of the National Assembly enacted to drive it,” he said.
The senior advocate also highlighted the longstanding problem of overlapping responsibilities among government agencies operating within the ports sector, arguing that the National Single Window system would help eliminate duplication, reduce delays and simplify trade processes.
According to him, importers and exporters currently face cumbersome procedures that force them to move between multiple agencies during cargo clearance, increasing operational costs and slowing business activities.
“We have overlapping functions, multiple agencies doing different things. That wastes time, effort and money. The idea is to harmonise everything through one single window so that all agencies are connected and people do not have to move from one agency to another for different stages of cargo clearance,” Igbokwe stated.
He further warned that delays in implementing an effective framework were already hurting Nigeria’s economy, as importers increasingly divert cargoes to neighbouring countries with more efficient port systems.
“The nation is bleeding. Because of the high cost of imported goods arising from the multiplicity of procedures and costs, many goods meant for Nigerian ports are going to neighbouring ports. We are losing revenue,” he added.
While acknowledging that the legislative process in Nigeria is often slowed by political distractions and competing priorities, particularly during election periods, Igbokwe insisted that rapid passage of the required law remains achievable if backed by strong political will and executive support.
Also speaking, the Director of the National Single Window Project, Tola Fakolade, stressed the importance of regulatory reform to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the initiative and shield it from political interference.