FG to launch phase 1 of National Single Window March 27 for trade facilitation

The Federal Government has announced the commencement of Phase 1 of the National Single Window (NSW) Project, scheduled for launch on March 27, 2026, marking a decisive step toward reforming Nigeria’s trade ecosystem through technology, transparency, and smarter regulation.

The National Single Window is a centralised digital platform designed to simplify and harmonise trade procedures by enabling traders to submit trade-related information once, through a single interface, while relevant government agencies access, process, and approve the required documentation seamlessly.

The initiative is expected to significantly reduce delays, eliminate duplication, curb inefficiencies, and lower the cost of doing business at Nigeria’s ports and borders.

Speaking on the transformative potential of the project during the inauguration of the project on the 16th of April 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the National Single Window as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s trade and economic reform agenda.

“The National Single Window will change the way trade is done in Nigeria. It will replace fragmentation with coordination, opacity with transparency, and delay with efficiency,” says Presidency.

The President added that the NSW aligns with the administration’s commitment to
economic diversification, non-oil export growth, and improved ease of doing business, noting that efficient trade systems are critical to national development.

Also speaking on the initiative, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke
Oduwole, described the National Single Window as a game-changer that will simplify and democratize trade in Nigeria.

Dr. Oduwole explained that the platform will streamline trade documentation through a unified window, enabling greater transparency, improved transaction tracking, and
increased trade volumes.

She added that experienced traders, in particular, would benefit from the efficiency gains offered by the system.

The National Single Window is expected to enhance trade facilitation, reduce the cost of doing business, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional trade hub.

Providing insight into the implementation strategy, Mr. Tola Fakolade, Director of National
Single Window Project explained that the Federal Government has deliberately adopted a phased rollout approach, beginning with Phase 1, which will focus primarily on statutory permits and manifests.

“The National Single Window will be rolled out in phases, starting with Phase 1, which concentrates on statutory permits and cargo manifests,” Mr. Fakolade stated. “This allows
us to stabilise the system, build confidence among stakeholders, and deliver immediate value where bottlenecks are most pronounced.”

According to Mr. Fakolade, the decision to phase the launch reflects lessons learned from previous large-scale technology initiatives that adopted a “big bang” approach.

“We have learned from the flaws of past big bang technological rollouts, where attempting to do everything at once created avoidable disruptions,” he noted. “Phasing the National Single Window is a deliberate and strategic choice—one that prioritises sustainability, user
adoption, and continuous improvement over speed for speed’s sake.”

He further emphasized that subsequent phases will gradually expand the scope of the platform, onboard additional agencies, and deepen integration across the trade value chain, ensuring a resilient and scalable system.

“This approach ensures that the National Single Window grows with the ecosystem, guided by real data, user feedback, and operational realities,” Mr. Fakolade added.

As Phase 1 goes live, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the private sector, development partners, and trade stakeholders to ensure a smooth
transition and shared ownership of the reform.

“By simplifying trade processes and leveraging digital innovation, we are unlocking faster movement of goods, strengthening revenue assurance, and creating a more competitive environment for Nigerian businesses to thrive locally and globally.” Mr. Fakolade added.

With the launch of the National Single Window, Nigeria takes a bold and pragmatic step toward modern trade governance—one that places efficiency, transparency, and learning at
the heart of national progress.

Photo caption:

L:R: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole and Director, National Single Window Project, Mr Tola Fakolade.