Nigeria Launches Phase 1 of National Single Window Program

On Tuesday, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched Phase 1 of the National Single Window (NSW) program as part of its efforts to boost the country's trade facilitation ecosystem. Dr. Ogho Okiti, Special Adviser to the Minister of Media Communication, stated that this initiative, coordinated by Minister of Finance Adebayo Edun, marks a decisive step towards modernizing Nigeria's trade processes.

The reform aims to improve port operations' efficiency, addressing the current cargo dwell time at Nigerian ports, which averages 18 to 21 days—475% higher than the global average of four days. The NSW program will target transaction delays by introducing a single-digit platform for trade documents, eliminating multiple agency processes, and enabling electronic submissions of licenses and permits.

The upgrade of Apapa and Tin ports, which handle 70% of Nigeria's trade, is expected to reduce cargo dwell time to seven days by 2026, aligning Nigeria closer to global standards and enhancing trade competitiveness, particularly within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).