As Single Window Launching Draws Near, NAGAFF 100% Team Laments Lack of Synergy by Port Agencies

As Nigeria awaits the official launching of the National Single Window (NSW), the digital platform expected to unify all import and export processes and ease congestion at the ports in March 2026, the National Coordinator of the 100 percent Compliance Team of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Ibrahim Tanko has raised an alarm, saying that there is lack of synergy among government agencies.

Tanko in a press statement on Saturday lamented the challenges being experienced on Nigeria Customs Service B’Odogwu trade platform. He specifically criticized the difficulty in uploading Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) documentation, which he said can take weeks, further delaying cargo clearance.

Tanko said that these daily frustrations are faced by freight forwarders despite recent policy reforms introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs.

Apart from challenges with SON and Customs B’Odogwu platform, Tanko also condemned what he described as overreach by certain government agencies, including the Agricultural Quarantine Service, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

He claimed these agencies routinely place holds on containers and seize goods beyond their statutory mandates.

Tanko called on authorities to urgently address these issues and prevent growing unrest among freight forwarders, especially as the new Single Window platform is set to be introduced.

“Our concerns are not complaints, they are constructive feedback to help the system work better. We bear the brunt while making money for terminal operators. Enough is enough,” Tanko stated.

The 100 per cent Compliance Team reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable freight forwarding practices and urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively toward a more efficient and transparent port system.