NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW PROJECT

By Lod Onyeji

The Nigeria Customs Service has emphasized the need for collective commitment from all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) initiative. The project aims to simplify Nigeria's import and export processes through a unified digital platform, enhancing efficiency, competitiveness, and predictability for manufacturers and traders.

Assistant Comptroller-General Mohammed Babandede, Zonal Coordinator for Zone 'A', made the call during the National Single Window Stakeholders' Engagement Forum in Lagos. The event, jointly organized by the National Single Window Project Secretariat and the Nigeria Customs Service, brought together government agencies, import and export sectors, and trade associations.

Babandede stressed that the project's success requires collaboration, adaptability, and patience from all stakeholders. "The success of this project does not rest on the shoulders of the government alone. It requires all of us to play our part," he stated.

The Director of the National Single Window Project, Tola Fakolade, highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement as the project nears its first phase launch. The Registrar and CEO of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Kingsley Igwe, noted that the NSW is vital to Nigeria's participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing the need for trade processes to align with continental and global best practices.

The forum featured a panel discussion and interactive session, providing participants with an opportunity to engage with project leaders. The National Single Window platform is expected to reduce bottlenecks in the clearance process, and its launch is projected in phases, with the first phase expected in March 2026.