The Federal Government has intensified plans to implement the National Single Window (NSW) system across Nigeria’s ports by 2026, in a move aimed at revolutionising trade facilitation and port efficiency.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking at the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, described the initiative as a “game changer” that will harmonise documentation processes, reduce human contact, and improve transparency in cargo clearance.
Shettima announced that the policy’s primary target is to cut cargo clearance time to under seven days by the end of 2026, making Nigerian ports rank among the top three most efficient trade gateways in Africa. He noted that the full implementation of the National Single Window in the first quarter of 2026 would transform port operations nationwide.
According to him, inefficiencies in the current system have made the cost of clearing goods in Nigeria about 30 percent higher than in neighbouring countries. He warned that such delays and costs discourage investment, increase consumer prices, and weaken the nation’s export competitiveness.
“Our ports record cargo dwell times 475 percent above the global average benchmark. We cannot afford to continue down this path,” Shettima said.
The Vice President directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), NAFDAC, SON, and other relevant agencies to jointly develop a weights and measures framework that ensures fairness in trade and protects consumers from fraudulent practices. He said accurate measurement remains critical to achieving efficiency and maintaining international trade standards.
Shettima also expressed optimism that the pending Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection, awaiting President Tinubu’s approval, would address long-standing bottlenecks in port operations. “It marks the dawn of a new era where agencies work together and systems speak a common language,” he said, adding that the order would bring greater predictability, transparency, and speed to port activities.
He urged all port-related agencies including Customs, NPA, NAFDAC, NDLEA, SON, Immigration, and Quarantine, to work as a unified value chain, stressing that “inter-agency rivalry must give way to collaboration.”
“No reform succeeds without ownership,” Shettima declared. “Our efficiency depends on how well we work together.”
Zahrah Audu, the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), highlighted the negative impact of inefficient port processes on Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business ranking. She called for stronger collaboration and accountability among stakeholders to make the ports globally competitive.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, echoed similar sentiments, saying efficiency cannot be achieved without synergy and cooperation among agencies. “Until there is collaboration and partnership, you cannot achieve efficiency at the ports,” he said.
Dantsoho added that progress is already being recorded through joint inspection and boarding operations by relevant agencies. He identified technology adoption, infrastructure upgrades, and human capacity development as top priorities to enhance competitiveness and ensure Nigeria remains an active player in regional and global trade.
