NCS seeks collaboration from stakeholders on the national Single Window – THISAGE project

The Nigeria Customs Service has called for a collective commitment from all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) initiative to streamline Nigeria’s import and export processes through a unified digital platform.

The Service Zonal Coordinator for Zone “A”, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Mohammed Babandede, made the appeal during the National One Stop Shop Stakeholder Engagement Forum held in Lagos.

Organized by the Single Window Project National Secretariat and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the event attracted participants from government agencies, import and export sectors and trade associations.

In his opening remarks, ACG Babandede highlighted that the success of the project requires the collaboration and adaptability of all players in the trading ecosystem.

“The success of this project does not rest solely on the shoulders of government. It requires all of us in this room to do our part. It requires openness to change, a willingness to adopt new ways of working and patience as we face the inevitable challenges that come with any major transformation,” he said.

He added that improving efficiency at the nation’s ports would improve competitiveness and predictability for manufacturers and traders.

“You will agree with me, the more efficient we make our ports, the more competitive they will be. And so manufacturers and stakeholders will also be able to predict what the outcome will be.”

National Single Window Project Director and Head of Secretariat, Tola Fakolade, underlined the importance of engagement as the project nears the launch of its first phase.

“As we get closer to launching the first phase of this project, it is very important to ensure that all our key stakeholders really understand the scope of what we are doing and the impact this project will have on what they do.”

In his opening speech, Kingsley Igwe, Chancellor and CEO of the Council for the Regulation of Goods Shipping in Nigeria (CRFFN), noted that the National Single Window is vital to Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He stressed that it has become imperative for Nigeria to fully participate in the AfCFTA by ensuring that trade processes are in line with continental and global best practices.

“These practices include cost reduction and integration of free trade agreements into the National Single Window system through the Nigeria Customs Service’s B’Odogwu platform to improve the effectiveness of duty classification and payment.”

The forum featured a roundtable on global benchmarking, coordination and cooperation between commercial actors, as well as an interactive question-and-answer session that allowed participants to interact directly with project leaders.

The National Single Window platform is designed to enable importers and exporters to submit all required trade documents through a single digital portal, connecting all relevant government agencies and reducing bottlenecks in the customs clearance process.

The first phase is expected to launch in March 2026, while the second and third phases are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

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