Follow Us on Google
•Says ports plagued by delays, administrative bottlenecks under old system
By Steve Agbota
Owing to the failure to implement the National Single Window (NSW) initiative, Nigeria incurs an annual loss of approximately N2.5 trillion due to inefficiencies, delays and administrative bottlenecks at the country’s ports.
Addressing participants at the recently concluded 3-day National Single Window stakeholders’ forum, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, highlighted that the staggering loss stemmed from the exorbitant cost of doing business at the nation’s ports.
He said: “As highlighted by the World Bank, the cost of doing business at Nigerian ports can be up to 40 percent higher than in other West African countries due to delays and administrative bottlenecks, leading to an estimated annual revenue loss of N2.5 trillion within the business community.
“However, the implementation of the Single Window System can enhance efficiency, potentially reducing these costs by at least 25 percent. By streamlining operations, improving transparency, and minimizing delays, the system not only drives cost savings but also strengthens overall trade facilitation,” he said.Conversely, he noted that the cumulative impact across all areas—including reduced costs, enhanced efficiency, and greater transparency—ultimately contributes to the overall ease of doing business, adding that the significance of this conference extends beyond fostering collaboration, dialogue, and alignment among key players within various sectors.
“It promotes transparency, builds trust, and encourages collective action on critical issues such as policy development, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure improvements, and technological advancements. This, in turn, serves as a vital mechanism for advancing the maritime sector, ensuring that all relevant voices are heard and contributing to the broader objectives of economic growth and sustainability.
“The future of Nigeria’s blue economy holds immense promise, but its realization depends on our continued commitment to fully implementing the Single Window System. By prioritizing this initiative, we will unlock the true potential of our maritime resources, paving the way for sustained growth, enhanced trade, and increased investment for generations to come,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Finance and Economy, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the implementation of the NSW will extend far beyond mere convenience.
“We strongly believe it will have a significant impact in transforming our economy; this is because by digitizing and integrating trade procedures, we can unlock a multitude of advantages that include enhanced efficiency and transparency,” she said.
According to her, the National Single Window System has been tried and tested in numerous countries with evidence of significant impact on their economic fortunes.
“In Indonesia, their NSW program was launched in 2007 to simplify trade, and since then they have achieved significantly reduced clearance time, the average time for cargo clearance at ports dropped from seven days to just three days, and traders saved millions of dollars annually through reduced administrative costs and delays, and the NSW continually improved Indonesia’s ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report, thereby attracting more FDI for the country.
“In 2014, Vietnam introduced its NSW as part of broader trade facilitation reforms; the program enhanced trade efficiency by streamlining interaction with over 20 government agencies, reducing paperwork and manual processes, which, in turn, led to improved compliance and increased customs revenue. This ease of trading facilitated by their NSW helped Vietnam increase exports, particularly in manufacturing and agriculture. Such a similar impact would be significant for Nigeria as we continue to build our foreign reserves and strengthen the Naira.
“Here in Africa, Rwanda established its NSW in 2012 to promote regional and international trade, which has since resulted in speedier border crossing times, which decreased by 50 percent, thus boosting the movement of goods in Rwanda. The NSW reforms contributed to Rwanda becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and improved Rwanda’s trade within the East African Community (EAC),” she explained.
However, she said the successful implementation of the National Single Window requires a strong commitment from all stakeholders, including government agencies, the private sector, and civil society.
