Nigeria Advances to Phase 2 of National Single Window Project

The Federal Government has commenced the next phase of Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) Project, a major digital trade facilitation initiative designed to simplify and integrate import and export processes across government agencies.

The development followed a meeting involving the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on the next phase of implementation.

A Unified Digital Platform for Trade

The National Single Window is designed to provide a single digital platform through which traders can interact with relevant government agencies. Rather than submitting the same information to multiple agencies or navigating several regulatory processes separately, importers and exporters will be able to access multiple services through one integrated system.

The initiative is expected to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, improve transparency, accelerate clearance processes, reduce transaction costs and ultimately create a more competitive business environment.

In practical terms, the system seeks to create a more seamless process where businesses can submit information, obtain permits and approvals, make payments and track regulatory processes through an integrated platform.

Strong Progress Recorded in Phase 1

The progress recorded since the launch of the first phase has been encouraging.

Since going live in March 2026, the National Single Window has reportedly processed more than 124,614 licences and permits, registered 11,096 importers and agents, and trained over 8,000 users.

The platform has also facilitated approximately ₦12.59 billion in regulatory payments.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) reportedly accounted for more than 85,000 documents and approximately ₦9.95 billion in payments, while NAFDAC processed about 38,985 documents, generating approximately ₦2.59 billion in payments.

These figures demonstrate the potential of the platform to significantly transform the way trade-related regulatory transactions are handled in Nigeria.

Phase 2 to Focus on Exports

The second phase is expected to place a stronger emphasis on export facilitation.

The Federal Government wants to integrate export permits, certificates, licences, inspections, payments and other regulatory requirements into the system. The objective is to eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce the number of separate processes exporters currently have to navigate.

Under the improved system, an exporter should be able to move through a more streamlined process:

Understand requirements → Submit information → Make payments → Track applications → Receive approvals → Export.

The government has reportedly set the end of November 2026 as the deadline for relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to complete the necessary integration and deliver the second phase.

Key Agencies Already Onboarded

Several government agencies have already been fully integrated into the National Single Window, including:

Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
NAFDAC
Nigeria Customs Service
Nigeria Quarantine Service
National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)

There has also been progress in the integration of cargo manifests. Reports indicate that 25 of 27 cargo-handling airlines had been onboarded, alongside 48 of 88 shipping lines for sea manifests.

What This Means for Nigerian Businesses

The National Single Window could represent a significant ease-of-doing-business reform for Nigerian businesses engaged in international trade.

If effectively implemented, the platform could reduce the time businesses spend dealing with multiple regulatory agencies, minimise duplicate documentation, improve the speed of approvals and clearance, and potentially reduce the cost of import and export transactions.

For importers, exporters, customs agents, logistics companies, manufacturers, tax professionals and accountants, the development is particularly important because it signals a broader shift towards the digitalisation and integration of Nigeria’s trade and regulatory processes.

It also means businesses involved in international trade will need to pay attention to changes in digital compliance, documentation, permits, regulatory payments and agency requirements as the system expands.

National Single Window and B'Odogwu

It is important to note that the National Single Window is not intended to replace the Nigeria Customs Service’s B'Odogwu system.

Rather, the two systems are designed to complement each other. The National Single Window serves as a single entry point for traders and other stakeholders, while B'Odogwu continues to support core Customs functions, including areas such as valuation and risk management.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s move into the second phase of the National Single Window represents another significant step towards digitising and simplifying the country’s international trade ecosystem.

With Phase 2 placing greater emphasis on exports and a November 2026 deadline for integration, the success of the initiative will depend largely on effective collaboration among government agencies, technology providers and the business community.

If successfully implemented, the National Single Window could help Nigeria move closer to a trade environment where businesses spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time doing business.