By Fruzzy Wuzzy
The Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mr. Kingsley Igwe, has said that the adoption of the National Single Window project in the country’s import and export processes will not only cut down the cost and time of cargo clearance at the ports but also lower production costs for manufacturing firms.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting on the National Single Window project in Lagos, Igwe also said that despite being Africa’s largest economy, strategically positioned as the gateway to West and Central Africa, businesses in Nigeria (large, multinational, small-scale importers, or local manufacturers), continue to struggle under the heavy burden of high logistic costs, fragmented processes, duplication of documentation, and delays in cargo clearance.
He stated that the National Single Window represents a transformative solution that has been successfully implemented in several countries, where trade facilitation reforms have delivered measurable improvements in efficiency, competitiveness, and attracted investment.
He said: “The reason for this urgency is that Nigeria is at a critical juncture in its economic journey. We are Africa’s largest economy, strategically positioned as the gateway to West and Central Africa. Yet, our business, whether large, multinational, small-scale importers, or local manufacturers, continue to struggle under the heavy burden of high logistic costs, fragmented processes, duplication of documentation, and delays in cargo clearance.
“The national single window represents a transformative solution, one that has been successfully adopted in countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Rwanda, where trade facilitation reforms have yielded measurable gains in efficiency, competitiveness, and investment attractiveness.
“The national single window is a digital platform that allows traders, businesses, and regulatory agencies to submit and assess trade-related documents in single, unified interface. Instead of shippers, freight forwarders, banks, customs, port operators, and other stakeholders working in silos with multiple paper submission, the national single window integrates them into one transparent, secure, and interoperable ecosystem.
“It ensures that, one, importers and exporters can process documentation once, with instant recognition by all agencies. Regulatory approvals, permits, licenses, and inspections are automated and tracked in real time. Payments, compliance, check, and cargo release happen seamlessly with reduced human interface.
“Then why it matters for all businesses in Nigeria to key into national single window and adopt it in their business processes is this. Number one, for large corporations, the national single window reduces transaction costs. What that means is you can imagine when an entity is importing or exporting high volume of goods, say 500 container goods.
You would imagine the amount of documents that will accompany such consignment but with the advent of the national single window, one set is enough and could be done digitally to recognize the flow of that consignment from origin to destination without alteration or altercations along the way. So it cuts delays and enhances supply chain visibility.
“It means companies can plan production, imports, and exports with certainty, therefore boosting competitiveness on the global stage. What about the SMEs and local traders? Small businesses are the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. Yet they often bear the brunt of bureaucratic bottleneck.
“With national single window, SMEs will have simplified, affordable, and transparent access to trade facilitation tools, enabling them to scale, assess new markets, and formalize their operations. What of the manufacturers? By ensuring faster clearance of raw materials and machinery, manufacturers can reduce downtime, enhance productivity, and meet market demand without costly delays. For us, the government and the regulators, the national single window provides real-time data on trade flows, revenue, and compliance.
“It strengthens security, cuts leakages, eliminates rent-seeking practices, and enhances Nigeria’s standing in global ease of doing business ranking. For the logistics and freight forwarding community, the freight forwarders, cut operators, terminal operators, truckers, and carriers will benefit from reduced paperwork, predictable operations, and digitally-tracked consignment, leading to lower costs, faster delivery, and higher throughput. The broader economic significance includes lowering cost of doing business in Nigeria, because studies have shown that full adoption of national single window could reduce logistic costs in Nigeria by up to 25% to 30%.
“It will enable Nigeria to join the rank of global trading hubs and attract more foreign investments. Regional integration, the national single window is essential for Nigeria to fully participate in the African continental free trade area. By ensuring trade processes align with continental and global best practices.
“And these practices would include, for us to reduce costs, the admission of free trade agreements into the national single window system through the Odobu platform of the Nigerian Custom Service to enhance effective classification and duty payments. This point is very, very key for cost reduction through the national single window. Job creation, with smoother processes, business expansion, business expands faster, creating more jobs across logistics, manufacturing, ICT, and services.
“Trust is the key word in this point. Banks, insurance, and service providers must integrate seamlessly into the platform. Freight forwarders and logistics service providers and small traders must receive the requisite training and support to adopt the system fully.
“This requires trust, collaboration, and transparency values that must guide our journey forward. Let’s think about this as a call for action. Distinguished stakeholders, the time for half measured has passed.
“If Nigeria is to rise as a competitive logistics and trade hub, the national single window must not only be adopted, it must be owned and championed by every business, every agency, and every operator. We must see this not as another government initiative, but as a national economic lifeline. The cost of inaction is simply too high.
“Now, stakeholders adoption. At this juncture, it is a collective responsibility for all stakeholders to adopt the new technology and new initiative, the national single window. However, the success of the national single window is not dependent on technology alone.
“It is dependent on you, the stakeholders.
Government agencies must harmonize regulations and eliminate duplications, just as some statutory functions of government agencies who actually cross functions. For private sector operators, you must embrace digitalization, abandon manuals, shortcuts, and trust the system.More delays, high costs, lost investment.”
