The Federal Government has launched the first phase of the National Single Window (NSW), a digital portal designed to streamline international trade, alongside ongoing upgrades at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports aimed at reducing delays, cutting costs, and improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, combines technology and infrastructure reform to tackle long-standing bottlenecks in the country’s trade system. The NSW introduces a unified digital platform that allows traders to process documentation electronically, reducing reliance on manual procedures and multiple agency approvals.
Edun said the reform directly targets inefficiencies that have slowed down cargo movement across Nigerian ports. “Critically, 73 percent of cargo dwell time is ‘transaction dwell time’—time spent on documentation, customs processing, and regulatory approvals. This means the primary bottleneck is not physical infrastructure alone; it is process inefficiency,” he stated.
Under Phase 1 of the NSW, traders can now submit Licences, Permits, and Certificates (LPCOs) digitally, while agencies can process manifests and manage risk through a centralised system. According to the Minister, this eliminates duplication, reduces human delays, and improves coordination across government bodies involved in trade.
The digital rollout is being implemented alongside major upgrades at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, which together handle about 70 percent of Nigeria’s trade volume. The government says the port modernisation will address congestion, outdated infrastructure, and inefficiencies in cargo handling that have contributed to prolonged delays.
As of 2025, cargo dwell time in Nigerian ports stood between 18 and 21 days—far above the global average of four days. This gap has significantly increased logistics costs and weakened the competitiveness of Nigerian imports and exports.
Edun said the combined reforms are designed to cut cargo dwell time to under seven days by 2026. “Nigeria’s response is deliberate and integrated. Phase 1 of the NSW directly targets the 73 percent transaction delay component,” he said, adding that the broader port upgrades will complement the digital system by improving physical operations such as cargo discharge and evacuation.
The government maintains that the reforms will deliver direct benefits to businesses. Importers and manufacturers are expected to gain faster access to raw materials and reduce demurrage costs, while exporters will benefit from quicker turnaround times and improved access to international markets, especially under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Addressing concerns about private sector involvement in the port upgrades, Edun said the arrangement is structured for mutual benefit. “It is not a zero-sum arrangement,” he said, noting that Nigeria will gain modern infrastructure, increased productivity, and job creation, while partners participate in financing and commercial opportunities.
“This programme targets the largest constraint to trade efficiency… and most importantly, it reduces the hidden ‘congestion tax’ borne by Nigerian businesses,” Edun added.
