…Highlight big data as game-changer for success

By Merit Ibe

The federal government’s National Single Window (NSW) initiative for trade facilitation is anticipated to transform Nigeria’s import and export landscape, with experts predicting it could cut trade inefficiencies by 60 per cent and reduce overall costs by 25 per cent.

Experts are also optimistic that the project could generate $3 billion in annual revenue, if fully implemented and well managed.

The NSW initiative, being spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, aims to create an integrated digital platform that allows all stakeholders, including government agencies, importers, exporters and logistics operators, to process trade documents through a single portal.

But not without a strong digital infrastructure which involves power and large data volumes which are critical for its success, stakeholders argue.

The NSW project which was launched in April 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, with full rollout set for March 2026, promises to cut costs, boost transparency, and modernise Nigeria’s trade ecosystem for competitiveness in global commerce.

Currently, traders face significant delays due to multiple documentation processes and the involvement of numerous regulatory agencies at Nigeria’s ports and borders.

The NSW seeks to harmonize these operations by integrating platforms such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), NAFDAC, SON, NPA, and other border management agencies under a single, interoperable system.

Once operational, the platform is expected to drastically cut processing time, lower costs, and eliminate overlapping functions.

Experts estimate that the system could reduce total trade transaction costs by between 30 and 60 percent, saving businesses billions annually and increasing Nigeria’s trade volume, with the believe that if the single window for trade works well, the 60% lost to inefficiency will be saved.

Commending government’s commitment, the stakeholders underscored the need for collaboration, institutional accountability, and strong political will to ensure sustainability.

They emphasized that inter-agency coordination and private-sector inclusion are crucial to achieving the desired outcomes.

If well executed, the reform could become one of the defining legacies of the current administration, a system that finally makes trade in Nigeria faster, cheaper, and corruption-free.

With the NSW, SMEs will have simplified, affordable, and transparent access to trade facilitation tools, enabling them to scale, assess new markets, and formalise their operations.

By ensuring faster clearance of raw materials and machinery, manufacturers can reduce downtime, enhance productivity, and meet market demand without costly delays.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said the system would curb leakages, strengthen transparency, and tackle logistics disruptions affecting over 70% of supply chains.

“This system will enhance transparency, eliminate redundancies, and plug revenue leakages that have long weakened Nigeria’s trade system,” Oyetola stated.

Experts describe the reform as one of the most transformational moves in Nigeria’s trade, noting that it aligns with national goals to boost non-oil revenue, diversify exports, and position Nigeria as a $1 trillion economy, in sync with the AfCFTA.

Dr. Jani Ibrahim, President of NACCIMA and Chair of the Organised Private Sector, said the policy will ease import-export processes, improve efficiency, and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness.

David Etim, Project Implementation Team Lead, Calabar and Gulf of Guinea Municipal and Trade Centre Limited By Guarantee, clarified that the NSW is “a digital platform for trade, not a digital trade platform,” bringing together all players, regulators, shippers, truckers, and logistics providers, under one system.

He stressed that the initiative, though not new, is finally gaining traction under the Tinubu administration.

“For the single window to work, Nigeria must ensure connectivity, power, and data capacity, backed by competent hands not quota appointments,” Etim noted.

Despite the optimism, Etim pointed out that the project faces challenges related to data harmonization, technical infrastructure, among others.

“As project implementation team leader, I’ve been exposed to the single window for trade for close to five years, since about 2020. We’ve been interacting with the back-end operators of it because it is something we subscribe to and want to key into, to drive our trade facilitation within West and Central Africa.

“So, issues such as fiber optic cables and the ability to manage large data volumes are critical for its success, so, data is the backbone required.”

He warned that inefficiencies and corruption, which add up to 60–110% in extra trade costs — could derail progress if not addressed.

“If implemented right, the single window could cut Nigeria’s trade costs from $150 to about $40, with savings reflected in lower consumer prices,” Etim added.

He noted that at a time, the World Customs Organisation-promoted and UK AID-sponsored time release study, was done using Tin Can Port as the base for the study, the report showed that there were huge inefficiencies in Nigeria’s trade facilitation ecosystem. Etim said prior to this administration, a lot of lip service was paid to the single window for trade, but not a lot of traction was given to it, “the kind of traction we are seeing today.”

On the institutionalization of the processes that will cause a successful implementation, Etim advised that while the president may approve, and the minister and Customs may support, the desk officers, the people at the granular level who will sit on the system are key.

“The work ethic, the seriousness in dealing with matters, must be embedded in the system. It’s a cultural change. The public sector must undergo a cultural change. It’s not enough for the minister to know and agree. The director or permanent secretary is not where the change happens. The desk officer is where the change really happens, the person at the portal, or the one ensuring that the solar panels or network connectivity are working. These are the people that will determine the success or failure of the single window for trade, the shop-floor operators.

“Our inefficiencies have created institutional beneficiaries, people who profit from the system’s failures. These institutional beneficiaries will fight this change. So, we must be prepared.

“The government must ensure competence and capacity, not quota or tribal considerations. It must be competence alone. Those who know what they are doing and have the capacity to do it must drive and supervise the implementation.

“The single window for trade is a fantastic initiative that will transform Nigeria’s trade.

“Some time ago, the African Development Bank did a study comparing Nigerian ports with ports in Ghana. It showed that to clear a 20-foot container in Ghana costs about $4,000, while in Nigeria it costs over $20,000, five times more.

“The single window for trade is designed to cut those costs. In my opinion, 60% of our trade costs in Nigeria today are subsidies for inefficiency. Added to that is corruption. So, you’re already losing 60% to inefficiency and another 20–50% to corruption.

“If the single window for trade works well, the 50% added for corruption and the 60% lost to inefficiency will be saved. On an expenditure of $150, you’ll be spending roughly $40. That $110 saving will be transmitted to the consumer because all data will be digital and accessible. The Consumer Protection Agency can then ensure that those savings reflect lower prices. This will help reduce inflation, particularly food inflation, significantly.

“With a single window for trade, and supporting measures like tax reforms and time release studies across all border points, trade will become easier.”

Imokhai Ehimigbai, a member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Group (MANEG) hailed the initiative. He said the system has already reduced export delays, eliminated document loss, and enhanced transparency in the NXP approval process.

Daniel Dickson-Okezie of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) described the NSW as a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s cross-border trade operations,” predicting a 25–30% drop in logistics costs and stronger investor confidence.

“The NSW will streamline processes, close leakages, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a global trading hub.”

He said If successfully implemented, the initiative could also attract foreign investment, promote non-oil exports, and help Nigeria meet the requirements of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Collaboration, transparency, and consistency will determine its success, Dickson-Okezie noted.