The Federal Government will launch the highly anticipated National Single Window (NSW) platform on 27 March 2025, a move described by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as a “monumental” step toward transforming Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), in a statement on Wednesday, said Gbajabiamila made the initiative known during a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House in Abuja attended by ministers, heads of agencies, and other key officials.
Gbajabiamila explained that the initiative, first introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nearly two years ago, is a major fiscal reform aimed at streamlining trade procedures, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
“We are about to launch yet another reform by this administration, which, by 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 made and secure your commitment to ensure a smooth transition.”
The Chief of Staff commended the dedication and professionalism of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other agencies involved in the project.
Earlier, the NSW Coordinator, Tola Fakolade, called on participating agencies to intensify their support in the final 23 days before the scheduled launch.
According to him, the first phase of the platform will enable online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests, and the deployment of a centralized risk management system.
He noted that nationwide training for users is already ongoing, while pilot testing will soon commence to ensure a smooth rollout.
Fakolade added that cargo manifests would be submitted electronically and automatically transmitted to relevant agencies without human intervention.
“The support we need from each of the agencies is even more critical now. Documents will be submitted once and shared with all relevant agencies without duplication,” he said.
The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the project.
“This is a growth-enhancing and growth-enabling initiative. Whatever is required of the Ministry of Finance, we will certainly do,” he said.
Similarly, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, pledged full support from the ministry, describing the project as a critical pillar of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said the initiative was long overdue and promised to work with relevant agencies over the next three weeks to sensitize traders, importers and exporters ahead of the launch.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, also assured the bank’s full backing, stressing the importance of closing Nigeria’s trade facilitation gap with other countries.
In the same vein, the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, called for stronger coordination and political will, proposing that the Minister of Trade lead the 23-day implementation phase to ensure effective delivery.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, described the project as a historic milestone and emphasised the need for sustained engagement with stakeholders and full collaboration among agencies.
At the end of the meeting, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was mandated to lead the final implementation phase to ensure a smooth and successful launch on March 27.
Agencies represented at the meeting included the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Others were the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NQS) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
