Maritime operators hail Single Window Project as game-changer for cargo clearance

Stanley Ihedigbo

Licensed customs agents and freight forwarders under the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents and the National Association of Government-Approved Freight Forwarders have thrown their weight behind the Federal Government’s National Single Window (NSW) Project, describing it as a long-awaited relief for operators in the maritime and trade sector.

The two associations endorsed the project and pledged full support for its implementation during separate town hall meetings held in Lagos, with ANLCA members meeting on Tuesday and NAGAFF members on Wednesday in Apapa.

Speaking at the ANLCA session, the National President, Emenike Nwokeoji, described the NSW project as a critical reform for licensed agents. He expressed excitement over the strong backing from the Federal Government and the political will of the present administration to eliminate multiple documentation processes and repeated submissions.

According to him, the initiative will help address overlapping functions among regulatory agencies and ensure that objections raised on the platform are visible to all stakeholders, thereby enhancing transparency, speeding up cargo clearance and enabling remote submission and tracking of cargo documentation.

He added that the project would simplify operations for licensed agents and expressed confidence in its success, noting that the association would continue to support the initiative in every possible way.

At the NAGAFF engagement, National President, Tochukwu Ezisi, described the project as timely and capable of significantly improving efficiency, transparency and ease of doing business in the sector. He said the association fully supports the reform and is optimistic that with proper training and stakeholder engagement, the project will deliver its expected benefits to both the industry and the national economy.

Also speaking, Founder of NAGAFF, Boniface Aniebonam, described the Single Window initiative as a breakthrough for the maritime industry.

He noted that the interactive structure of the platform would make business transactions seamless and improve operational standards while strengthening compliance with due process.

The leadership of both associations urged members to embrace the programme fully, drawing lessons from past industry transitions where delayed adoption created operational difficulties.

They also emphasised the importance of training programmes organised by the NSW implementation team and encouraged members to register online, attend sessions at designated centres and pass down knowledge to their staff.

Earlier, Director of the NSW Project, Tola Fakolade, outlined a phased implementation strategy designed to manage risks and resolve early operational challenges. He explained that the rollout will occur in three stages over a maximum period of 12 months.

He disclosed that Phase One will commence on March 27, 2026, covering Licenses, Certificates and Permits (LCPO) import applications, manifest submissions for air and sea cargo, centralised risk management for regulatory agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, as well as LCPO payments.

Phase Two, scheduled for Q2 to Q3 2026, will include export LCPO applications, export process applications such as NXP, Form M initiation on the Single Window platform and development of data analytics dashboards.

Phase Three, expected in Q1 2027, will focus on declaration submissions, duty assessment and payment, Advanced Risk Analytics and Trade Visualisation Systems.

Fakolade assured stakeholders that processes not captured in the first phase would continue on existing government agency platforms to ensure continuity and operational stability.

He further disclosed that the project will be supported by an intensive two-day hands-on training programme for licensed customs agents and freight forwarders, to be conducted nationwide over four weeks. He advised participants to register for training centres closest to them, adding that stakeholder consultations would continue throughout implementation to capture feedback and improve system performance.

The project director also revealed plans to establish internet-enabled support centres at major ports, beginning with Apapa Port.

He added that help desks and walk-in support centres would be available after launch to assist users and ensure a smooth transition.

While commending the strong backing already demonstrated by ANLCA and NAGAFF leadership, Fakolade called for wider sensitisation among members, urging them to serve as ambassadors of the initiative, which he described as the beginning of a new era in Nigeria’s trade facilitation journey.