Customs Agents Warn NSW Violates Trade Agreements

Nigerian customs agents, led by Lucki Amiwero, have raised alarms regarding the National Single Window (NSW) platform, asserting that it violates the Trade Facilitation Agreement and the Nigerian Customs Act No. 35 of 2023. In a letter, they described the NSW as duplicative and an impediment to the clearance of goods at Nigerian ports.

Amiwero emphasized that the platform usurps the functions of the Nigerian Customs Service and could impose unspecified charges that would overburden import licensing processes, making Nigerian ports among the most expensive globally. He warned that this situation could divert cargo to neighboring countries, adversely affecting foreign direct investment.

The NSW portal is said to contravene international best practices and domestic trade facilitation laws. Dr.

Segun Musa, a maritime expert, criticized the NSW as inadequately equipped to transform cargo clearance, suggesting that without proper infrastructure, the initiative would fail to deliver meaningful change.