Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) project has increased the processing of import licences and permits by between 20 and 30 per cent, with more than 156,000 processed since the platform’s launch in March 2026.
The development signals growing adoption of the government’s digital trade platform, which is designed to simplify import and export procedures, reduce paperwork and improve cargo clearance.
Tola Fakolade, Project Director of the National Single Window, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, saying the initiative had completed its first phase and was preparing to move into the second phase, which will focus on exports.
“We have over 156,000 licences and permits that have been processed through the platform. The number of licences and permits that have been issued, compared to the same period last year, has gone up between 20 to 30 per cent,” Fakolade said.
He said the increase in processing reflected improved compliance and suggested that the platform was helping to close loopholes in Nigeria’s trade processes.
The first phase of the NSW, which focuses on imports, officially went live on March 27, 2026. The project was initiated following the inauguration of its steering committee by President Bola Tinubu on April 16, 2024.
The platform allows importers to submit applications for licences and permits to regulatory agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), through a centralised electronic system.
According to Fakolade, the system eliminates the need for traders to submit the same documents separately to multiple agencies, helping to speed up cargo movement and reduce port turnaround times.
The platform replaces fragmented, paper-based procedures with a single digital portal that integrates data sharing, electronic payments and cargo tracking across seaports, airports and border locations.
Fakolade said the second phase of the project, which will focus on exports, is expected to commence by the end of 2026.
He added that the NSW was also working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to integrate relevant trade-related regulatory processes into the platform.
The initiative is expected to provide a central point for processing regulatory forms required by the CBN. The government also plans to introduce the import duty exemption certificate through the platform, although final approval will remain with the Minister of Finance.
The project director stressed that the NSW would not take over the responsibilities of existing government agencies but would provide a common platform for coordinating their processes.
He said the platform had registered more than 12,000 importers and agents and trained thousands of users to support adoption.
Fakolade identified knowledge gaps as one of the initial challenges facing the project, adding that training programmes had been introduced to familiarise users with the system and its requirements.
The platform is open to importers, exporters, clearing and forwarding agents, shipping lines, airlines and freight forwarders.
By centralising trade documentation and regulatory processes, the government aims to improve transparency, strengthen compliance and reduce delays and costs associated with moving goods across Nigeria’s borders.
The success of the export phase will be an important next step in determining how far the platform can improve the efficiency of Nigeria’s international trade and support businesses seeking access to global markets.
