Nigeria's Export Documentation Moves Online Under Tola Fakolade

Nigerian exporters are set to experience a significant change in obtaining necessary documentation for shipping goods abroad as the government plans to transition export licenses, permits, and certificates to the National Single Window. Tola Fakolade, the project director, outlined the timetable during a briefing in Abuja on October 13.

User acceptance testing for phase two is scheduled to commence next week, with selected agencies and users participating in the testing process before the training and rollout. The first group of agencies, including the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NAFDAC, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, is expected to begin operations under the export phase before the end of 2026.

This phased transition aims to streamline the administrative processes involved in exporting goods, although it does not eliminate the need for underlying approvals or guarantee faster decision-making by agencies. Additional institutions, such as the Central Bank and Customs, are anticipated to join in the first quarter of 2027.