MARCON, Government aligns on National Single Window Project to drive economic growth

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy

Stanley Ihedigbo

In a significant boost to Nigeria’s economic prospects, the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) has applauded the Federal Government’s latest move to actualize the National Single Window (NSW) project, a long-awaited initiative aimed at streamlining trade processes and enhancing economic efficiency.

In a press release signed by the association’s President, Ismail Aniemu, and its Secretary, Olamide Osho, MARCON commended the growing number of stakeholders who have shown support for the project while also describing the NSW as a game-changer for Nigeria’s economic rebirth.

The association also urged all players in the nation’s import, export, manufacturing and logistics ecosystems to brace up for tech-driven capacity development that would reinforce Nigeria’s position as Africa’s economic powerhouse with an influential population and high volume of trade.

It also lauded the project directorate domiciled in the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for pursuing an all-inclusive agenda, promoting robust engagements and sustaining the tempo of growing awareness for the national single window.

By consolidating documentation and automating approvals, MARCON believes the NSW will eliminate redundant paperwork and multiple agency interactions, cutting cargo clearance times significantly. This will, in turn, reduce demurrage charges (storage fees for delayed goods) and logistics bottlenecks, saving businesses billions of naira annually.

For instance, importers and exporters can avoid unnecessary costs from port delays, while small enterprises gain easier access to global markets. Overall, this fosters a more efficient supply chain, directly boosting sectoral productivity in manufacturing, agriculture, and e-commerce.

According to Aniemu, “the one document submission accessible and usable for security, regulatory and revenue purposes without the old way of multiple submissions, thereby eliminating the cumbersome bottlenecks of various government agencies, is the right way to go.

“This process is indeed revolutionary as it will further plunge Nigeria into a regime of paperless business transactions, promoting productive speed in a transparent manner that prevents trade disputes.

“We are optimistic about the responsibility of accountability that the NSW shall place on all users, as it will, no doubt, usher in true trade facilitation and ease of doing business. We call on all business people to join in working for the success of the project, which commences by the end of the first quarter in 2026,” he said in the release.

Other expected benefits from the project include streamlined documentation, cost savings and lower administrative burdens, enhanced Government Revenue and reduced leakages; increased transparency and anti-corruption measures and boosting investors’ confidence to attract foreign direct investments (FDI).