FG TARGETS 2026 FOR NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOW IMPLEMENTATION TO TRANSFORM NIGERIA’S PORTS
Read Time:2 Minute, 6 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Government has set an ambitious target to fully implement the National Single Window (NSW) system across Nigeria’s ports by 2026, as part of sweeping reforms to enhance trade efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this during the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, describing the initiative as a “game changer” for port operations in the country.
Shettima said the policy aims to harmonise port documentation, reduce human contact, and ensure faster cargo clearance, noting that Nigeria must urgently address inefficiencies that make its ports among the most expensive and time-consuming in the region.
“By the end of 2026, we aim to reduce average cargo clearance time in Nigeria to under seven days,” he declared.
The Vice President lamented that the cost of clearing goods in Nigeria is 30 per cent higher than in neighbouring countries, with cargo dwell times 475 per cent above global benchmarks, a situation he said discourages investment and hurts economic growth.
Shettima directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and other regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC, SON, and NDLEA, to develop a unified roadmap for an effective weights and measures framework to guarantee fairness and accuracy in trade.
He expressed confidence that the pending Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection, awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s approval, would tackle long-standing bottlenecks and foster a culture of synergy and shared responsibility among agencies.
“It marks the dawn of a new era where agencies work together and systems speak a common language,” Shettima said.
“Inter-agency rivalry must give way to collaboration. Our efficiency depends on how well we work together.”
The Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, emphasised that poor port operations continue to undermine Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, urging all stakeholders to commit to making Nigerian ports globally competitive.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, said true efficiency at the ports can only be achieved through collaboration, technology adoption, infrastructure upgrades, and human capacity development.
“Until there is partnership and synergy, you cannot achieve efficiency at the ports,” Dantsoho said, adding that progress has already been made through joint inspection and coordinated boarding by relevant agencies.
With the 2026 deadline approaching, the National Single Window initiative is expected to revolutionise port operations, cut costs, improve transparency, and position Nigeria among the top three most efficient trade gateways in Africa.
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