Ahead NSW Phase 1 Launch Tomorrow, FG Says Technology Will Solve 73% of Port Delays

• Zacch Adedeji: Project’s funding fully captured in NRS’ budget

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

As preparations towards tomorrow’s launch of the National Single Window (NSW) Phase 1 initiative intensifies, the federal government has stated that the technology would directly solve 73 per cent of delays at the seaports which are process-related.

The NSW was 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 document from the office of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr.  Wale Edun, revealed that Nigeria had taken a decisive step to modernise its trade ecosystem with the launch of Phase 1 of the NSW.

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 percent higher than the global average of 4 days,” the document stated.

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 document 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.

Meanwhile, ahead of tomorrow’s launch of the NSW, key government stakeholders and industry leaders yesterday underscored the significance of the reform as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.

They spoke at the newly-opened National Single Window support center in Lagos, where the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, described the initiative as a “game-changer” that will enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.

According to her, the platform is designed not only to ease the cost of doing business but also to empower local industries and attract foreign investment.

Echoing this sentiment, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, emphasised the fiscal implications of the initiative.

Edun noted that the NSW will significantly improve revenue collection through transparency, reduce leakages, and strengthen Nigeria’s economic resilience in a rapidly evolving global market.

In the same vein,  the Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji affirmed that the NSW initiative is fully funded within the federal government’s approved budget, and is designed to improve business efficiency, not merely boost revenue.

He noted that the project’s funding is already captured in the agency’s appropriation and complies strictly with the national budget approved by the National Assembly, with no extra-budgetary spending involved.

Adedeji explained that the initiative includes investments in digital infrastructure and system integration, while assuring that it will not replace the roles of agencies such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He said, “The system enables a single payment, which is automatically distributed to the relevant agencies,” adding that the initiative is being institutionalised through ongoing tax reforms, ensuring continuity beyond the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Also, from an operational standpoint, the Nigeria Customs Service, reaffirmed its readiness to drive the implementation. Comptroller General, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, who is currently on an official assignment abroad but joined virtually, highlighted the technological backbone of the platform.

 Adeniyi noted that it integrates multiple agencies into a single digital interface, thereby eliminating redundancies and enhancing efficiency.

Further reinforcing the preparedness of the Customs system, Adeniyi, stressed the importance of stakeholder alignment and capacity building, assuring that his team and end-users had undergone extensive training ahead of the launch.

Also speaking at the event, industry stakeholder, Tola Fakolade commended the government’s commitment to reform, noting that the private sector stands to benefit immensely from a more predictable and efficient trade environment.

“The National Single Window is more than a technological upgrade, it is a structural reset that harmonizes processes across multiple government agencies, it eliminates duplication, reduces human interface, and enhances accountability,” Fakolade added.

Globally, countries that have successfully implemented Single Window systems have recorded significant improvements in trade volumes, ease of doing business rankings, and government revenue.

Nigeria’s entry into this league signals a readiness to compete more effectively in regional and international markets, especially within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).