As the Lola Fakolade-led Presidential Committee on the National Single Window Project sets a December, 2025 timeline for the launch of its official test run , stakeholders have been unequivocal about the imperatives of the need for a legal backing for the project . This is coming on the heels of a myriad of problems which stakeholders say may hinder its successful implementation if appropriate checks and balances are not put in place. It would be recalled that previous attempts by past administrations to introduce the scheme had hit a brickwall on account of various interests, especially among contending agencies fighting to pick up the role as the lead agency .
President Bola Tinubu had on April 16, 2025 launched the National Single Window initiative, a transformative project that will propel the nation’s economy to new heights.
The initiative is another bold testament to the President’s commitment to breaking long-standing developmental barriers in advancing the progress, prosperity, and well-being of every Nigerian.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative at the State House, Abuja President Tinubu said the National Single Window is a game-changer that will revolutionize the way trade is conducted in the country, and with the Office of the President overseeing the steering committee that will drive the reform process forward.
A National Single Window (NSW) is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to submit standardized information and documents through a single point of entry to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. It essentially streamlines the trade process by consolidating information and procedures from various government agencies into one digital platform. Singapore is the first country to successfuly deploy the Single Window Project some 30 years ago, and since then no fewer than 30 countries have embraced it .
Speaking at an impressive private sector stakeholders engagement in Lagos about a fortnight ago, Director of the National Single Window Project, Mr Tola Fakolade, explained that the scheme was a game changer if Nigeria must occupy her rightful place in the comity of maritime nations.
Fakolade took participants at the one workshop down memory lane, chronicling past attempts by previous administrations to get the scheme off the drawing board. He was, however, optimistic that given the commitment of the Tinubu administration to the seamless take off of the project, Nigeria was on the path of history to join the league of nations that have successfully embraced the scheme.
According to Fakolade, Nigeria’s multiple failed attempts to embrace Single Window in the past may have been largely due to the lack of clear policy guidelines, insufficient funding models and the supremacy contest among some sister agencies , issues he said have been addressed by his committee.
The Single Window Project helmsman revealed that to avoid a repeat of what transpired during previous failed attempts, all critical stakeholders have been brought on board. They include the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Shippers Council, Central Bank of Nigeria and duty collecting Commercial banks.
Others include the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, freight forwarders, Customs brokers, NAFDAC, Standard Organization of Nigeria, Terminal Operators, FAAN, Airlines, NESRA, among others.
At the workshop which held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, participants spoke passionately about the project and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu profusely for making this dream a reality.
Some sceptics, however, warned that past mistakes which aborted previous attempts should be avoided.
They insisted that the Committee should expidite action on giving the project a legal teeth. Fakolade, however, assured that with the level of importance which Mr President attached to this project, they can be rest assured that National Single Window Project would be given the required backing as an Executive bill would soon be forwarded to the National Assembly in that regard.
To ensure a seamless take off, the NSWP has completed the assessment and selection of a world class Technology Vendor, CRIMSONLOGIC. Crimsonlogic, reputed to be one of the foremost and globally acclaimed IT vendors and are also clients of the SIngaporean government. With rising concerns about data protection expressed by many speakers at the workshop, Tayo Fakolade gave an assurance that they need not express any such fears as all customers’ information would be secured. It is envisaged that the private sector stakeholders engagement would hold on quarterly basis to appraise the progress made by the Presidential Committee. The key benefits of the National Single Window is to simplify trade, increase revenue and enhance transparency. The private sector consultative forum whose inaugural session held on June 18 ,at the Protea Hotel, Ikeja is intended to represent the interests of private sector stakeholders within the National Single Window Project, ensuring their input in policy formation, system design, and operational capabilities of the Single Window platform.