Clearing agents, cargo supply chain experts and other stakeholders in the maritime sector of the economy have flayed the National Single Window (NSW) for its poor implementation.
The NSW which was launched with fanfare on March 27, 2026 has been plagued with series of hiccups resulting in the accumulation of demurrage running into millions of naira as importers, exporters and other port users grapple with the NSW processes.
The stakeholders made their views public at the second national seminar on NSW organized by the Media Anti-corruption Initiative (MACI) in conjunction with Hynek Media at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos recently.
The seminar with the theme “National Single Window: Strategies to Avert Failure”, brought together stakeholders from government, maritime agencies, trade facilitation bodies, and the private sector.
Participants at the seminar acknowledged the fact that NSW was a critical national reform project designed to streamline trade processes, enhance efficiency at ports, and improve Nigeria’s global competitiveness in import and export operations.
They averred that the NSW has the potentials to significantly reduce transaction costs in trade operations by up to 25 percent while improving government revenue generation by approximately 20 percent if effectively implemented.
They however expressed concern that despite its potential benefits, Nigeria’s reform history shows that major policy initiatives often fail due to weak institutional coordination, lack of transparency, and inter-agency rivalry.
According to them, the success of the NSW depends on strong political will, sustained institutional collaboration, and full buy-in from all relevant agencies involved in trade facilitation and border management.
The participants agreed that capacity building and continuous training of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers, port officials, and regulatory agencies are essential to ensure effective adoption and operation of the NSW system across the country.
They stressed the need for a holistic policy framework that integrates all relevant agencies, including NCS, shipping, health, environment, and other regulatory bodies to avoid operational contradictions and administrative delays.
Participants at the seminar highlighted the importance of infrastructure readiness, noting that inadequate port facilities, unreliable electricity supply, and weak logistics networks remain major constraints to trade efficiency in Nigeria.
Among other things, they resolved that NSW must be supported by what they called a “robust digital infrastructure”, including reliable broadband connectivity, automated systems, and secure data exchange platforms across all participating agencies.
They recommended full end-to-end automation and interoperability of the NSW system to ensure seamless processing of trade documents and real-time coordination among relevant institutions.
According to the stakeholders, there is a need to establish an efficient dispute resolution mechanisms within the NSW framework to address operational conflicts, tariff disputes, and regulatory disagreements in a timely manner. We need to lay emphasis for a strong compliance and enforcement systems, including real-time monitoring, audit trails, and penalties for fraudulent practices to safeguard the integrity of the platform.
Participants also called for the use of data analytics to enhance decision-making, detect revenue leakages, improve security monitoring, and identify patterns of illicit trade activities.
They called for a “one-stop shop” operational model where traders and stakeholders can submit all required documentation through a single unified platform to eliminate duplication and delays.
They argued that NSW should not be merely viewed as a technological reform but also a strategic economic transformation initiative.
While commending MACI for organizing the seminar, they argued that NSW should not be seen as a government initiative that should be left for government officials alone.
The participants called for sustained commitment from all stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation for national development and prosperity.
MACI Project Director, Mr. Lucky Onyeji Dilichukwu had earlier in his welcome address gave reasons why the non-governmental organization was throwing its searchlight on NSW.
He argued that since government cannot do it alone, there is need for other stakeholders to throw their weight behind NSW so that it can attain set goals and objectives.
MACI Head of Media and Publicity, Rev. John Iwori commended participants for taking out time out of their busy schedules to attend the seminar.
Iwori who is also the Publisher and Editor in Chief, Maritime Bits enjoined participants to take full advantage of the issues raised and discussed at the seminar to ensure that the right thing is done to make NSW a success.
