Ahead of the Phase One launch of the National Single Window, scheduled for March 27, 2026, the NSW Secretariat commenced a major sensitisation drive for the Nigeria Customs Service in Lagos on Monday.
The engagement brought together senior officers and operational personnel of the NCS to deepen understanding of the NSW initiative and its role in transforming Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
The NSW landmark trade facilitation platform gained further momentum as key stakeholders within the service gathered for a sensitisation session.
Speaking during the programme at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, the Director of the National Single Window Project, Tola Fakolade, emphasised that the NSW platform is designed strictly to facilitate trade and streamline processes across government agencies involved in import and export operations.
Fakolade explained that the platform will not encroach on the statutory revenue functions of any agency. “The NSW is not taking any revenue from agencies.
What it will do is facilitate ease of trade by integrating processes and improving transparency across all participating agencies,” he explained.
He further stressed that the initiative is not a tool for tax collection by the Nigeria Revenue Service, adding that it is a presidential project established to modernise Nigeria’s trade infrastructure.
“The NSW is a presidential initiative with a steering committee made up of all relevant government agencies, each duly represented and led by the Presidency. Though the Nigeria Revenue Service funds the project, the goal is not to compete with any agency but to improve collaboration and efficiency,” Fakolade added.
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, highlighted the strategic importance of the platform for Nigeria’s global trade competitiveness.
Adebakin noted that the NSW would significantly enhance operational efficiency within customs while improving Nigeria’s standing in international trade circles. She stated that by digitising and harmonising trade-related procedures, the platform would help position Nigeria more favourably in the global trading environment.
“The NSW will improve the image of Nigeria in the committee of nations as it relates to trade. It will simplify processes, reduce delays, and strengthen transparency within the system,” Adebakin said.
The sensitisation forms part of ongoing efforts by the NSW Secretariat to ensure that all government agencies involved in trade operations are fully aligned with the objectives of the project ahead of its full implementation.
Participants at the sensitisation workshop were taken through presentations outlining the operational framework, benefits, and collaborative structure of the platform. The engagement also provided an opportunity for officers to ask questions and gain clarity on how the initiative will interact with existing systems across agencies.
When operational, the NSW is expected to integrate multiple government agencies onto a unified digital platform, allowing traders to submit documents and complete regulatory requirements through a single interface. The initiative is widely regarded as a critical step toward reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks, improving efficiency, and strengthening Nigeria’s position as a competitive trading hub in Africa.
