By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stepped up efforts to ensure the successful implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) project, reaffirming its leadership role in advancing Nigeria’s trade modernisation and digital transformation agenda.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement with airline and shipping line operators in Abuja on March 4, 2026, the Comptroller-General of Customs said collaboration among key stakeholders would be critical to the smooth rollout of the initiative.
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He noted that the support and cooperation of industry stakeholders have significantly contributed to the progress recorded so far in the service’s ongoing modernisation drive.
According to him, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the service to take decisive steps toward launching the National Single Window, describing the initiative as a major strategy to position Nigeria as a competitive player in global trade.
The Customs chief emphasised that airline and shipping line operators are vital partners in ensuring a seamless transition to the new system.
He also assured stakeholders that adequate support mechanisms are being established to facilitate the migration process.
“A help desk with well-trained personnel will be available to address any operational challenges that may arise during the rollout,” the Comptroller-General said.
Earlier, during an awareness programme held on March 3, the service rallied stakeholders and partner agencies to support the initiative, describing the National Single Window as a strategic reform aligned with Customs’ mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation and improved inter-agency coordination.
Speaking at the programme, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, described the NSW as a major milestone in the service’s modernisation efforts.
She explained that the NCS has spent several months preparing for the initiative to ensure that the operational framework reflects industry realities and supports seamless implementation.
“This is a national project, but Customs is at the centre of its execution,” Adebakin said. “The success of the Single Window depends on collective understanding and cooperation. We must all appreciate its value because we cannot effectively promote what we do not fully understand.”
She reassured officers and stakeholders that the initiative is designed to strengthen institutional capacity rather than replace human resources, adding that the integration of technology would enhance efficiency, transparency and speed in cargo clearance and trade documentation processes.
Also speaking at the programme, the Director of the NSW Project, Tola Fakolade, acknowledged the leadership role of the NCS in the implementation process.
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“Our number one stakeholder is the NCS,” Fakolade said. “We have maintained a strong and constructive working relationship. Customs’ participation and institutional experience are critical to the success of this project.”
With the NCS spearheading coordination and stakeholder engagement, the National Single Window project is expected to transform Nigeria’s trade environment, boost revenue generation and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global trading system.
