The Federal Government has announced plans to commence full enforcement of the National Single Window policy in 2026, as part of efforts to enhance efficiency and reduce cargo clearance time at Nigeria's ports.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this during the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the initiative will establish a unified digital platform to streamline documentation, reduce human contact, and promote transparency in cargo clearance processes.
Shettima said the policy aims to position Nigeria's ports among the top three most efficient trade gateways in Africa, targeting a reduction in average cargo clearance time to less than seven days—down from the current 18 to 21 days. By comparison, Ghana's ports average five to seven days, while the Republic of Benin records about four days.
"The cost of clearing goods in Nigeria is estimated to be 30 per cent higher than that of many of our regional peers. Our ports record cargo dwell times 475 per cent above the global average benchmark," Shettima stated. "These inefficiencies are symptoms of an economic ailment that costs us investments, drives up consumer prices, and weakens our export competitiveness."
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He revealed that an Executive Order on joint physical inspection is currently before President Bola Tinubu, designed to address operational bottlenecks at the ports. The Vice President also tasked the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service, NAFDAC, SON, and other agencies to strengthen Nigeria's weights and measures framework to ensure compliance with international trade standards.
"The era of agencies working in isolation is over," Shettima emphasized. "Inter-agency rivalry must give way to inter-agency synergy. We are only as efficient as our collaboration allows."
Speaking at the meeting, the Managing Director of the NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, highlighted the role of partnership and technology in improving port operations. He noted that the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee has already achieved positive results through joint inspection and coordination among relevant agencies.
Dantsoho added that infrastructure development, capacity building, and deployment of modern equipment remain central to enhancing Nigeria's port performance and sustaining its competitiveness in regional and global trade.
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