Ahead NSW Phase 1 Launch, Technology will Solve 73% of Port Delays,Says FG
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
As preparations towards Thursday’s launch of the National Single Window (NSW) Phase 1 initiative intensifies, the Federal Government has stated that the technology will directly solve 73 per cent of delays at the seaports which are process-related.
The NSW is designed as a single integrated digital platform, which connects all relevant government agencies involved in trade regulation and cargo clearance, and aims to simplify trade processes, eliminate duplications and significantly reduce cargo clearance timelines from several weeks to days.
A media brief from the office of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said
Nigeria had taken a decisive step to modernise its trade ecosystem with the launch of Phase 1 of the National Single Window.
According to the document, “Thursday’s planned launch of NSW coincides with last week’s deal to upgrade Apapa Port (built 1913) and Tin Can Port (built 1977).
“This is a coordinated reform designed to cut cargo dwell time, reduce trade costs, and unlock economic growth.
“As of 2025, cargo dwell time in Nigerian ports averaged 18–21 days. This is approximately 475% higher than the global average of 4 days.”
It noted that this leads to high cost of doing business, delays for importers and exporters, and reduced competitiveness of Nigerian goods.
It noted that 73 per cent of cargo dwell time is “transaction dwell time”, stressing that time is spent on documentation, customs processing and regulatory approvals
“This means the primary bottleneck is not physical infrastructure alone — it is process inefficiency,” the brief said, adding that the government adopted a dual reform approach, which is deliberate and integrated.
It noted that Phase 1 of the NSW to be launched on Thursday directly targets the 73 per cent transaction delay component by introducing one single digital platform for trade documentation, eliminating multiple agency visits and duplicative processes.
NSW also enables electronic submission of licences, permits, certificates (LPCOs), digital manifest processing, centralised risk management across agencies and transparent electronic payments.
The NSW is expected to impact on dwell time, culminating in faster document processing, reduced human interface and bottlenecks, predictable and transparent timelines.
On the other hand, the upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Ports, which handle 70 per cent of Nigeria’s trade, addresses congestion at terminals, inefficient cargo handling, outdated infrastructure and impact on dwell time.
The upgrade also leads to faster cargo discharge and evacuation, reduced port congestion and improved turnaround time for vessels and trucks.
The media brief noted that the NSW and port upgrades are mutually reinforcing, explaining that NSW results in faster approvals while port upgrades lead to faster cargo movement.
