ANLCA BOT Aspirant, Ademola Mumuney, Raises Doubts on Single Window Project’s Ability to Address Nigerian Port Challenges

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Ademola Mumuney, a retired customs officer and aspirant for the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), has voiced significant concerns about the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s proposed single window system in resolving the longstanding issues plaguing Nigerian ports.

In a media interaction on Thursday, Mumuney expressed skepticism about the implementation of port concession exercise 18-years after, which was initially intended to streamline operations and establish Lagos as a key West African logistics hub.

Recall that the Federal Government had launched the National Single Window Project to boost Nigeria’s trade and economic growth.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun who kicked off the launch of the transformative initiative, said the platform aims to streamline trade processes, reduce bottlenecks, and increase transparency, positioning Nigeria for economic growth.

The project, spearheaded by the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, seeks to create a centralized platform where traders can submit and receive information related to import and export procedures.
The project is expected to significantly reduce the time and cost associated with trade transactions.

However, in a chat with journalists, Ademola Mumuney said the composition of the steering committee of the Single window project was faulty from the beginning and may not be successful, adding that the clearing agents as critical stakeholders were excluded from the committee.

“In Nigeria, we start things with good intentions, but implementation becomes another thing,” he remarked. He highlighted that despite the positive objectives of port concessioning, the execution has been flawed, leading to inefficiencies.

Mumuney elaborated on the ongoing challenges, noting, “The issue of concessioning was meant to make things easier and more organized, creating a hub in Lagos. But we don’t do the right things. There are too many agencies in the ports.”

According to him, the current system is burdened by an overabundance of agencies, which exacerbates the inefficiency and high costs associated with port operations. He specifically pointed out that “Customs is a major agency supposed to be in the ports, while others like NAFDAC should work with customs outside the ports. Customs should direct them if they find contraband.”

Looking ahead, Mumuney discussed the potential role of the single window system, which is designed to reduce the number of agencies physically present at the ports and streamline clearance processes. “With the single window system coming into play, there should be fewer agencies physically present in the ports. The goal is to make clearance cost-effective and efficient,” he said. However, he cautioned that the system’s success hinges on full participation and cooperation among all relevant agencies.

Mumuney also criticized the recent committee formed to oversee the single window’s implementation, noting its failure to include critical stakeholders. “When the single window was introduced, it was meant for all agencies to have access and communicate effectively. The committee set up recently didn’t include the main stakeholders like customs brokers and freight forwarders, which is a mistake,” he explained.

He emphasized that these stakeholders, who handle the day-to-day operations, are essential for the system’s success. “Without their input, the system might fail from the start,” he warned.

Despite ongoing workshops related to the single window system, Mumuney stressed the importance of involving the right stakeholders. “The government needs to ensure the right stakeholders are involved. That’s crucial for success,” he concluded.

As the debate over the single window system continues, Mumuney’s concerns underscore the need for a well-coordinated approach to address the persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s ports and achieve the desired operational improvements.