Stakeholders have warned that unresolved structural and inter-agency issues could translate into heavy losses for importers and the wider economy. This is even as they cautioned against the financial risks that could accompany the implementation of the National Single Window.
The stakeholders stated this on Wednesday in Lagos during the 10th annual seminar for maritime journalists and the launch of the Centre for Maritime Media and Capacity Development in Lagos.
The event organised by First Mediacon Network Limited and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, was themed, “A decade of collaboration for impact: Strengthening maritime journalism for the future.”
Maritime stakeholders expressed fears that the NSW, scheduled to take off in 2026 to streamline port operations, could encounter “multiple problems if the current multiplicity of regulatory interfaces is not eliminated.”
Speaking at the event, the National Vice President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Mr Segun Oduntan, pointed out that despite the concept of a NSW, “operators still contend with several government regulatory agency platforms, alongside multiple internal windows covering enforcement, scanning, gate operations and cargo-clearing processes.”
Oduntan, who spoke through the Senior Special Adviser on Media, Suleiman Ayokunle, recalled the launch of various digital platforms by agencies for clearing processes. He, however, noted that the immediate aftermath was severe, as cargo evacuation from the port was completely stalled for about three weeks.
Oduntan stressed that such teething problems are often “inevitable with technology-driven reforms” but warned that their economic consequences can be far-reaching if not properly managed.
Highlighting the cost implications of these overlaps, Oduntan drew attention to recurring disputes between the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Maritime Police. He warned that “unless the NSW effectively harmonises agency roles and processes, such financial losses could persist, undermining the very efficiencies the reform seeks to achieve.”
The ANLCA Vice President expressed hope that the planned rollout of the NSW would adhere strictly to global best practices, delivering a truly unified platform capable of reducing delays, cutting costs and resolving long-standing inter-agency conflicts at the nation’s ports.
A former acting Vice President of ANLCA, Mr Kayode Farinto, warned that Nigeria’s past digital transitions had come at a high cost, noting that during previous system implementations, persistent connectivity failures delayed declaration processes and even submitted documents were not recognised by the platform.
Farinto also highlighted cost burdens imposed by regulatory agencies, citing examination fees charged by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria despite importers having the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme certification.
He said importers are charged between N3,000 and N7,000 per container for examinations, “even when conformity certificates have already been issued,” a practice he described as discouraging trade and encouraging circumvention.
Farinto also decried port police interventions in cleared goods, warning that higher or arbitrary intervention rates risk encouraging extortion and undermining trade facilitation.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah, said as the maritime sector grows more complex, driven by digitalisation, new trade realities, regulatory reforms and global logistical shifts, journalism within this space must evolve accordingly.
Akutah, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties at the NSC, Moses Abere, said the agency, as the port economic regulator, remains committed to promoting efficiency, transparency and competitiveness within the maritime sector.
He said the theme of the event reflects the essential role of partnership in building a stronger maritime industry. He noted that over the years, maritime journalists have worked closely with regulators, operators, policymakers and stakeholders to illuminate the challenges and opportunities within the sector.
He added that the council considers the media as essential partners in informing stakeholders, shaping public understanding and strengthening accountability.
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of FMNL, Sesan Onileimo, said maritime journalists are confronted with the need to upscale their knowledge, especially in this era of artificial intelligence, digitalisation and social media in general.
He said all of these have combined to put journalists under intense pressure to consistently deliver factual details, remain competitive and stay relevant, which is why the centre was established.
Onileimo said the centre is a bold move to bridge this gap and ensure that maritime journalists, irrespective of how young or old they are on the beat, will remain relevant.
He added that the centre is open to partnerships with interested corporate stakeholders whose goal is collaboration for impact, which the Nigerian maritime industry will benefit from.
The NSW is a trade facilitation system that allows traders, importers, exporters, freight forwarders and other stakeholders to submit standardised information and documents through a single electronic platform to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to the import, export and transit of goods.
