The National Single Window Secretariat, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, has reinforced stakeholders’ confidence through an intensified nationwide engagement programme across Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano, ahead of the official launch later this month.
A statement from the secretariat stated that the sensitisation sessions brought together NCS officers and critical stakeholders across Nigeria’s trade ecosystem, demonstrating the government’s commitment to creating a seamless, technology-driven trade environment that reduces delays, improves transparency, and strengthens Nigeria’s competitiveness in global commerce.
Speaking during the Lagos session, Tola Fakolade, Director of the NSW Secretariat, said the tour aimed to ensure that “government officials and private sector stakeholders are fully prepared for the transition to a digitally integrated trade system.”
He described the platform as a major milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward efficient and globally competitive trade facilitation.
“The NSW is not just a technology platform; it is a transformational reform designed to simplify trade processes, eliminate duplication, and significantly reduce the time it takes to complete import and export transactions,” Fakolade said.
He assured participants that the platform is ready for launch after extensive testing and stakeholder consultations. “We are fully prepared for the March 27 go-live. What we are doing through this sensitisation is to ensure that every stakeholder understands how the platform works and how it will benefit Nigeria’s trade ecosystem,” he added.
Addressing concerns about integration with existing systems, Fakolade explained, “The NSW will co-exist and collaborate with the B’Odogwu platform. Rather than replace existing systems, NSW will serve as the central coordinating hub that connects all relevant trade systems and agencies into one seamless digital environment.”
He emphasised that the integration would allow traders and regulators to interact with multiple government agencies through a single digital entry point, eliminating repetitive documentation and reducing administrative bottlenecks.
The two-day engagement sessions in each city were structured with the first day dedicated to Customs Service officers, focusing on operational readiness, platform integration, and inter-agency collaboration.
The second day convened stakeholders across the trade value chain, including licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, port operators, exporters, importers, and representatives of the organised private sector.
The programme recorded strong participation from leading trade associations, such as the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, and the Importers Association of Nigeria.
Leaders of these groups welcomed the initiative and commended the government for engaging stakeholders ahead of implementation, noting that the platform’s success would depend largely on collaboration between government institutions and the private sector.
