Implementation of National Single Window Will Ensure Transparency in Cargo Clearance, Improve Ports Efficiency – VP Shettima
VP SHETTIMA
By Francis Ugwoke
The federal government has stressed its commitment in the implementation of the National Single Window at the nation’s ports in 2026.
This was disclosed by the Vice-President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima who explained that the NSW project will be a creation of a single platform to harmonise documentations in the ports.
Speaking on the meeting of Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the VP said NSW will help in reducing human contact at the ports as well as ensure full . transparency in cargo clearance processes.
According to him, the policy remains a game-changer at the ports, adding that it will also reduce cargo average clearance time from 21 days to less than seven days in 2026.
He made it clear that the policy will further position Nigerian ports among the top three most potent trade corridors in Africa.
Shetimma said, “By the end of 2026, we aim to reduce average cargo clearance time in Nigeria to under seven days and to position our ports among the top three most efficient trade gateways on the continent.”
“The forthcoming implementation of the National Single Window in the first quarter of next year will be a game changer, a single platform that harmonises documentation, minimises human contact, and brings full transparency to the cargo clearance process.”
The VP directed government agencies at the ports, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), NAFDAC, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and others to introduce a roadmap on to make Nigeria’s weights and measures framework effective.
He explained that this is to ensure that operations in the ports improve so that cargo clearance can be very fast, stating dissatisfaction about the current cargo dwell time in Nigeria.
He said that nation’s ports record cargo dwell times 475 per cent above the global average benchmark
According to the VP, “This is compared to Ghana and Cotonou, Benin Republic, where it takes five to seven days and just four days, respectively.”
“The cost of clearing goods in Nigeria is estimated to be 30 per cent higher than in many of our regional peers.”
“These inefficiencies are not just statistics; they are symptoms of an economic ailment that costs us investments, drives up consumer prices, and weakens our export competitiveness.”
“We simply cannot afford to continue down this path.”
However, the VP was full of hope that the Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection now before President Bola Tinubu, “stands as one of the boldest and most decisive steps toward reversing these trends.”
He said, “It marks the dawn of a new era, an era where agencies work together, where systems speak a common language, and where traders and investors can depend on predictability, transparency, and speed.”
He directed that there should be synergy among all the agencies in the ports, saying the era of working in silo should come to an end.
He added, “But no reform succeeds without ownership. Every agency represented here, the NPA, NCS, NAFDAC, NDLEA, SON and Immigration, the Quarantine Service, as well as all our partners, must see ourselves not as isolated operators, but as links in a single, integrated value chain.”
“The era of siloed operations must end. Inter-agency rivalry must give way to inter-agency synergy.”
“We are only as efficient as our collaboration allows, and our success will depend not only on what we do individually, but on what we achieve together,” Shettima said.
The Director-General, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, had also pointed out the impact of inefficient port operations on the Ease of Doing Business in the country.
This situation, according to Audu, was the reason for all the stakeholders to improve on ports operations to make cargo clearance faster..
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, in his speech pointed out the need for synergy in revamping the ports.
Canvassing for synergy, Dantsoho said, “until there is collaboration and partnership, you cannot achieve efficiency at the ports.”
He steps have been taken to ensure address the issue of bottlenecks being experience by importers and exports in the ports.
He disclosed that the Customs and Ports Efficiency Committee set up by the NPA has recorded huge successes through joint inspection and boarding by relevant agencies operating in the area.
Dantosho also pointed out ports efficiency can be achieved through the adoption of technology, improvement in infrastructure, human capacity building, and equipment.
He said this was the only way to ensure that the country remains competitive and relevant in the sub-region, continent and beyond.
The federal government has stressed its commitment in the implementation of the National Single Window at the nation’s ports in 2026.
This was disclosed by the Vice-President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima who explained that the NSW project will be a creation of a single platform to harmonise documentations in the ports.
Speaking on the meeting of Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the VP said NSW will help in reducing human contact at the ports as well as ensure full . transparency in cargo clearance processes.
According to him, the policy remains a game-changer at the ports, adding that it will also reduce cargo average clearance time from 21 days to less than seven days in 2026.
He made it clear that the policy will further position Nigerian ports among the top three most potent trade corridors in Africa.
Shetimma said, “By the end of 2026, we aim to reduce average cargo clearance time in Nigeria to under seven days and to position our ports among the top three most efficient trade gateways on the continent.”
“The forthcoming implementation of the National Single Window in the first quarter of next year will be a game changer, a single platform that harmonises documentation, minimises human contact, and brings full transparency to the cargo clearance process.”
The VP directed government agencies at the ports, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), NAFDAC, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and others to introduce a roadmap on to make Nigeria’s weights and measures framework effective.
He explained that this is to ensure that operations in the ports improve so that cargo clearance can be very fast, stating dissatisfaction about the current cargo dwell time in Nigeria.
He said that nation’s ports record cargo dwell times 475 per cent above the global average benchmark
According to the VP, “This is compared to Ghana and Cotonou, Benin Republic, where it takes five to seven days and just four days, respectively.”
“The cost of clearing goods in Nigeria is estimated to be 30 per cent higher than in many of our regional peers.”
“These inefficiencies are not just statistics; they are symptoms of an economic ailment that costs us investments, drives up consumer prices, and weakens our export competitiveness.”
“We simply cannot afford to continue down this path.”
However, the VP was full of hope that the Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection now before President Bola Tinubu, “stands as one of the boldest and most decisive steps toward reversing these trends.”
He said, “It marks the dawn of a new era, an era where agencies work together, where systems speak a common language, and where traders and investors can depend on predictability, transparency, and speed.”
He directed that there should be synergy among all the agencies in the ports, saying the era of working in silo should come to an end.
He added, “But no reform succeeds without ownership. Every agency represented here, the NPA, NCS, NAFDAC, NDLEA, SON and Immigration, the Quarantine Service, as well as all our partners, must see ourselves not as isolated operators, but as links in a single, integrated value chain.”
“The era of siloed operations must end. Inter-agency rivalry must give way to inter-agency synergy.”
“We are only as efficient as our collaboration allows, and our success will depend not only on what we do individually, but on what we achieve together,” Shettima said.
The Director-General, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, had also pointed out the impact of inefficient port operations on the Ease of Doing Business in the country.
This situation, according to Audu, was the reason for all the stakeholders to improve on ports operations to make cargo clearance faster..
The Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, in his speech pointed out the need for synergy in revamping the ports.
Canvassing for synergy, Dantsoho said, “until there is collaboration and partnership, you cannot achieve efficiency at the ports.”
He steps have been taken to ensure address the issue of bottlenecks being experience by importers and exports in the ports.
He disclosed that the Customs and Ports Efficiency Committee set up by the NPA has recorded huge successes through joint inspection and boarding by relevant agencies operating in the area.
Dantosho also pointed out ports efficiency can be achieved through the adoption of technology, improvement in infrastructure, human capacity building, and equipment.
He said this was the only way to ensure that the country remains competitive and relevant in the sub-region, continent and beyond.
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