Stakeholders praise single-window project for streamlining cargo processing

Freight forwarders, customs agents, exporters and importers have commended the National Single Window (NSW) project for reducing cargo processing bottlenecks and documentation delays.

The stakeholders, including members of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders and Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, gave the commendation on Tuesday at an engagement organised by the NSW project coordinator.

The engagement brought together maritime and trade sector representatives to assess progress in addressing export bottlenecks and improving trade facilitation through inter-agency collaboration.

The stakeholders expressed satisfaction during a panel discussion, highlighting improvements in documentation, regulatory compliance, cargo clearance and export processing.

The Deputy Director, National Export Promotion Council, Dr Dunoi Adam, commended the platform for strengthening regulatory compliance support in origin and destination markets.

Adam said clearer documentation requirements and product-specific regulations had simplified export procedures and reduced the time required to deliver goods to overseas buyers.

He said the interval between order placement and delivery had improved as exporters navigated fewer agencies, resulting in faster vessel loading and product delivery.

This, he said, had also strengthened buyer confidence in Nigerian exports.

According to him, the NSW had streamlined documentation and procedures while addressing overlapping requirements among regulatory agencies, thereby reducing trade costs.

Similarly, the Comptroller in Charge of Modernisation, Nigeria Customs Service, Anyanwu Fayam, said the Service was digitising its processes and harmonising procedures with relevant agencies.

Fayam said the initiative had reduced paper-based bottlenecks, eliminated duplication and improved coordination among regulatory agencies.

He said the harmonised system enabled exporters to submit documents once through a coordinated platform, facilitating faster cargo clearance.

The Head, National Product Certification Department, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mrs Arumemi Phebean, said the platform had improved visibility, traceability and verification of product certification information.

She said exporters could now register, fulfil certification requirements and undertake other regulatory processes through the harmonised platform without unnecessary delays or duplication.

Arumemi said certification remained essential to ensuring that Made-in-Nigeria products met international quality standards and gained acceptance in overseas markets.

She added that compliance would strengthen buyer confidence in Nigerian products globally.

The Deputy Director, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr Dunage Afam, said the platform had streamlined registration, certification, inspection and verification processes.

Afam said integrating regulatory procedures had reduced overlaps, simplified port operations and improved efficiency for exporters and other maritime stakeholders.

He said benefits already recorded in import processing were expected to extend to the export component of the platform, encouraging informal exporters to participate in international trade.

The Director, National Single Window, Dr Tola Fakolade, said the platform provided different access levels for freight forwarders, importers, exporters and regulatory agencies.

He said support centres and help desks had also been established to assist users with registration, onboarding and technical challenges.

Stakeholders at the engagement also commended progress in onboarding, data centres, help desks, bank integration and NXP processing.

They further highlighted improvements in real-time visibility of permits, shipments, cargo clearance and repatriation obligations.

The stakeholders called for sustained engagement, technical support and effective integration among participating agencies to ensure the platform achieved its objectives.

They said the initiative would simplify export procedures and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade.