The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said that the deployment of advanced digital platforms must be accompanied by meticulous process re-engineering, capacity building, and proper change management.
Adeniyi, while speaking during a stakeholder meeting recently in Lagos, added that the technology has often been cited as the cornerstone of a single-window system, but technology alone is not the solution.
Represented at the event by an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Information and Communications Technology, Kikelomo Adeola, the CGC maintained that past efforts by the government to deploy a single window faltered due to the overemphasis on technology without adequately addressing the human and operational dimensions.
Adeniyi reiterated that over the years, the country has witnessed various efforts aimed at integrating government agencies, streamlining processes, and fostering efficiency in trade facilitation.
However, these attempts have been fraught with challenges, ranging from fragmented technological systems and institutional silos to misaligned staples of expectation and inadequate physical and technological infrastructure.
“Technology has often been cited as the cornerstone of a single-window system, but technology alone is not the solution. The deployment of advanced digital platforms must be accompanied by meticulous process re-engineering, capacity building, and proper change management. Past efforts in Nigeria faltered due to the overemphasis on technology without adequately addressing the human and operational dimensions,” Adeniyi stated.
According to him, a successful single-window system must reflect the peculiarities of Nigeria’s trade environment, incorporating user-friendly designs, interoperability with existing systems, and scalability to accommodate future growth.
Adeniyi emphasised the need for continuous training, retraining, and development of personnel across all agencies to ensure the system’s optimal utilisation.
The CGC mentioned that continuous stakeholder engagement must be at the heart of the implementation process, adding that previous initiatives suffered from limited collaboration and inadequate communication, which breached mistrust and resistance among stakeholders.
“A successful single-window system must prioritise inclusivity with active consultation and collaboration among government agencies, private sectors, actors, and development partners. This engagement must transcend consultation and involve co-creation where stakeholders actively contribute to system design and evaluation. By fostering a culture of trust and shared ownership, we can ensure buy-in and collective responsibility for system sources,” the CGC explained.
According to the World Customs Organisation, a Single Window is a trade facilitation concept that enables traders and businesses to submit standardised information and documents through a single entry point to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to import, export, and transit. It simplifies and streamlines interactions with government authorities, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs and delays in cross-border trade.
