The Nigeria Customs Service and the National Single Window Project Secretariat have strengthened engagement with stakeholders ahead of the rollout of the National Single Window (NSW).
Officials disclosed this during a stakeholder forum held in Lagos on Wednesday.
The initiative aims to improve efficiency in trade documentation and cargo clearance across Nigeria’s ports.
Speaking at the forum, the Zonal Coordinator of Customs Zone ‘A’, Mohammed Babandede, represented by Deputy Comptroller Taiwo Fagbohun, stressed the importance of collaboration.
According to him, the success of the project depends on strong cooperation between government agencies and the private sector.
He explained that the engagement forum aimed to increase awareness and build shared responsibility among stakeholders.
“This forum reflects the need for sustained collaboration in building a more efficient and technology-driven trade environment in Nigeria,” he said.
The Director of the NSW project, Tola Fakolade, highlighted transparency and traceability as major benefits of the system.
He explained that the platform will serve as a central hub for all trade-related documentation.
“With every information and document passing through the single window, the platform becomes the central source of truth for import and export documentation,” Fakolade said.
He added that the system will allow stakeholders to track applications and cargo processes in real time.
Participants also discussed the role of Harmonised System (HS) Codes, the globally recognised classification system for international trade.
Experts noted that the NSW framework will help harmonise regulatory processes among different government agencies.
This will improve risk profiling and reduce duplication in cargo clearance procedures.
Industry stakeholders at the forum welcomed the initiative. They also commended the organisers for involving industry players in discussions on the project.
The government expects the National Single Window to simplify trade processes, reduce delays at ports and improve transparency in Nigeria’s import and export operations.
