The Imperative of a Functional National Single Window in Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

Nigeria’s trading ecosystem stands on the verge of a new era in customs modernization and trade facilitation. Over the past decades, the nation has witnessed multiple transitions through various forms of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) platforms — from Asycuda to PAAR/NICIS I & II, and more recently, to the B’Odogwu platform. While each reform has aimed at improving trade efficiency, none has fully delivered the desired outcome of seamless cargo clearance.
As the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC), prepares to launch the National Single Window (NSW) by January 2026, this milestone demands not only commendation but deep reflection — on design integrity, governance structure, and financial impact.

LESSONS FROM THE SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE:

Singapore’s globally acclaimed TradeNet system, managed by CrimsonLogic, provides a model of efficiency where freight forwarders, terminal operators, airlines, and customs authorities communicate through a unified electronic channel.
Declarations are processed, approved, and transmitted electronically across a “mailbox” system, ensuring speed, transparency, and accountability.
Similarly, Singapore’s ACCESS (Advance Clearance for Courier and Express Shipments System) enables pre-arrival clearance — ensuring that consignments are ready for inspection even before landing. This is a product of institutional coordination, trust, and a shared national commitment to trade facilitation over bureaucratic competition.
Here again, the essence of developing and integrating a homegrown, tailored and nurtured national central computer network system, that meets and suites our peculiarities can not be over stressed.

THE NIGERIAN CONTEXT AND CHALLENGES:
In Nigeria, multiple attempts at establishing a central trade facilitation network have faltered due to inter-agency rivalries, shallow implementation frameworks, and vested interests. Despite notable digital migration strides by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), key challenges persist:

(a) Lack of interoperability among relevant port and border agencies.
(b) System integrity compromises leading to periodic disruptions and downtime.
(c) Weak private sector integration and stakeholder consultation.
Presently, the series of stakeholders engagement by the committee is apt, provided it collate and integrates requisite trade and operational informations at the long run.
(d) Overemphasis on revenue over trade facilitation objectives, paramount.
Importantly, the Nigeria Customs Service now bears a collective institutional duty to galvanize resources, technical capacity, and collaboration in ensuring that the B’Odogwu platform evolves into an enduring backbone capable of supporting the life span and operational depth of the forthcoming National Single Window (NSW) regime.

GOVERNANCE, TRANSPARENCY AND STRUCTURAL COORDINATION:

SEREC commends the Federal Government for constituting an Independent National Single Window Secretariat. However, it is crucial that the rules of engagement, moderation, and inter-agency release protocols be clearly defined to safeguard operational transparency and prevent dominance by any particular sectoral interest.
The Secretariat’s interventions and oversight functions must remain neutral, inclusive, and performance-driven, with measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to trade facilitation outcomes — not merely revenue collection.

Furthermore, emphasis must shift from external consultant-driven frameworks toward homegrown expertise that understands the peculiarities of Nigeria’s CIF-dominated import culture. Without addressing fundamental issues such as Incoterms misalignment and documentary non-compliance, even the most advanced EDI systems risk falling short of expectation. For special mention, the Committee’s are encouraged to look the way of influencing a policy shift or change to uphold the best appropriate, peculiar and applicable incoterms in our trade ecosystem, especially, the possible integration and adoption of DDU ( Delivered Duty Unpaid) & DDP( Delivered Duty Paid) and its requisite Letter of Credits as applicable.

ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE AND FINANCIAL STAKES:

The fiscal reality underscores the urgency of getting the National Single Window right. Verified data from multiple credible sources reveal the following:

Year / Period Customs Revenue (₦ Trillion) Remarks;

❇️ 2023 ~3.2 trilion Base year.
2024 – 6.105tn actual collection; 90.4% above 2023

❇️ H1 2025 ~ 3.68 trillion – 55.9% of the initial ₦6.58 tn target.

❇️ FY 2025 Target ₦6.58 tn – ₦10 tn Revised upward by National Assembly.

❇️ This strong revenue trajectory shows Nigeria Customs’ determination. Yet, without a seamless, transparent digital backbone, efficiency leakages, compliance gaps, and overlapping bureaucracy continue to erode the full potential of these figures, especially, in the face of low imports – cargo traffics.

A. Projected Gains of a Functional NSW:

A fully operational NSW could boost Customs revenue by 10–20% annually, yielding between ₦600 billion and ₦1.2 trillion in additional earnings.
By reducing cargo dwell time by 35–45%, logistics and demurrage savings for the private sector are estimated at ₦300–₦400 billion annually.
Overall trade transaction costs could drop by 20–25%, enhancing Nigeria’s global logistics competitiveness index and easing the cost of doing business.

B. Cost of Non-Implementation:

Current system inefficiencies are estimated to cost Nigeria ₦500–₦900 billion annually in unrealized revenue, administrative duplication, and lost productivity.
The absence of a unified NSW continues to push regional competitiveness toward neighbouring ports in Cotonou, Lome, and Tema, which already operate harmonized digital trade platforms.

C. Employment and Investment Opportunities;

A robust NSW ecosystem is projected to create over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in ICT, logistics, and data management.
Enhanced predictability and port transparency could attract $2–$3 billion in private logistics and maritime investments within five years, expanding GDP contribution from the maritime sector by up to 1.5%.

6. CONCLUSION :

SEREC reiterates that the success of Nigeria’s trade facilitation agenda hinges not on the sophistication of its software but on the integrity of its governance and inclusivity of its design.
The forthcoming National Single Window must therefore be pursued as a national economic reform, not merely an automation project.
Stakeholders — government, customs, freight forwarders, terminal operators, air/shipping lines, banks, and the trading community — must jointly commit to an operational culture of efficiency, transparency, and mutual trust.

The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) urges the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to ensure that the B’Odogwu platform evolves into a durable, interoperable, and sustainable digital foundation for the new era of Nigerian trade administration.

SEREC also urges all stakeholders—policy makers, freight practitioners, and industry leaders—to unite around the principle that Trade Facilitation must come first; revenue will follow efficiency.

Issued by:
Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC)
Promoting Maritime Research, Policy Advocacy, and Blue Economy Development.
Signed:

Fwdr. Eugene Nweke, Rff
Head of Research, SEREC