The Federal Government has rolled out Phase 1 of the National Single Window, a digital trade platform aimed at reducing cargo dwell time at Nigeria’s major ports from an average of 21 days to less than seven days by 2026.
This was disclosed in a media briefing issued by the Office of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Tuesday.
The announcement comes alongside a fresh agreement to upgrade Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port, the country’s two busiest seaports.
Collectively, the initiatives form a unified reform effort aimed at shortening cargo dwell time, lowering the cost of trade, and driving economic growth.
Nigeria’s port inefficiencies remain a significant barrier to trade, with cargo dwell times still far above global standards.
Cargo dwell time at Nigerian ports ranges from 18 to 21 days, far above the global benchmark of about four days.
Roughly 73 per cent of these delays are attributed to transaction processes, including documentation, customs clearance, and regulatory approvals.
Apapa and Tin Can Island ports account for nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria’s maritime trade volume.
The reform programme aims to cut cargo dwell time to under seven days by 2026.
President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a committee for the National Single Window project in April 2024, directing that the digital trade platform be fully operational by the first quarter of 2026.
The initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to support Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
The National Single Window is designed as a centralised digital platform that brings together all trade-related agencies on a single portal.
According to the statement, the NSW and port upgrades are expected to generate wide-ranging economic benefits across multiple sectors.
Importers and manufacturers are expected to gain from quicker access to raw materials, alongside lower demurrage and inventory costs.
Exporters will benefit from shorter turnaround times, boosting their competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The reforms are also projected to reduce the cost of goods and help ease inflationary pressures.
