Fakolade says NSW Simplifying Trade, phase-two exports begin December 14
Lagos, Nov. 10, 2026 The Director, National Single Window (NSW), Dr Tola Fakolade, has said that the national Single Window (NSW) simplifies trade by letting traders submit documents once as Phase-two exports begin December 14.
Fakolade made the disclosure
during the stakeholders’ engagement on unlocking endless possibilities:a comprehensive outlook on the National Single Window project held on Tuesday in Lagos
He explain that the NSW concept was developed by United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business World Trade Organisation and World Customs Organisation.
The director said that the platform allowed users to submit documentation for regulatory approval and receive approvals back on same platform while serving as central repository for trade data to drive transparency and collaboration.
Fakolade recalled that President Bola Tinubu inaugurated National Single Window project on April 16 2024 and Phase One launched March 27 with focus on licences permits certificates and manifests for trade.
He said that NSW was not taking over mandate revenue or job of any agency but was created to collaborate with agencies so combined effort would deliver greater efficiency for trade.
Giving scorecard since March Fakolade said that 169,211 licences permits certificates processed with over 12, 000 importers agents registered 27 airlines onboarded with over 4000 electronic manifests transmitted and 20 shipping lines.
He said that th National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standard Organisations of Nigeria (SON) now submit all licences permits on NSW platform while work continues to streamline overlapping regulation of products through HS code mapping with Customs Service.
Fakolade said that lessons from Phase One on change management stakeholder engagement training and support would guide Phase Two which focuses on exports including export licences permits and Free Trade Zone.
He said that phase two has two batches with Batch One agencies issuing export permits going live in December 14 while Batch Two including CBN processes goes live in the first quarter of 2027.
Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Assistant Comptroller-General Frank Onyeka, said that th National Single Window project remained crucial for successful implementation of Nigeria’s export transformation agenda.
He said over 169,000 licences and permits have been processed on the platform showing that national and international trade are being treated well through one unified system for exporters today.
Onyeka said customs service was focusing on every possible avenue to correctly position exporters on the platform and ensure no exporter was left behind in the transformation process for Nigeria.
He said that customs would continue to train officers standardise and strengthen partnerships with agents and port operators to embrace the platform register and participate in user acceptance and training sessions.
Onyeka said that th phase two had opened doors for export activities raises trade value and makes Nigeria stronger home for exports while congratulating President Tinubu for inaugurating project in April 2024.
The Zonal Coordinator said that the Comptroller-General of Customs Dr Bashir Adeniyi had provided visionary leadership driving reforms modernising processes and strengthening collaboration to ensure that NSW succeeds for exporters.
The Assistant Director, National Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Mrs Patience Apanide, said that NSW had processed over 169,000 import licences and permits since March 7, as stakeholders gather to onboard exporters onto phase two for seamless export documentation.
She said that the phase two would eliminate repeated inspections, unify documents in one window and track cargo from farm or factory to port, making exporters readiness central to success of platform.
The Deputy Director and Regional Coordinator, NSW, Mr Benedict Itegbe, said that NSW was built to boost prosperity and cut documentation friction for exporters.
He said that principle was one portal, one submission and one coordinated process, noting that NEPC was among first agencies to go live and aligned its processes with secretariat.
Itegbe said that non-oil exports recorded 6.1 billion dollars and 8.02 million metric tons in 2025, with over 8,200 new exporters, urging exporters to update registration without waiting.
The events also featured panel and interactive section, the panelist discussed on Single Window Reforms as it’s
Simplifies export processes for stakeholders
The Director National Single Window (NSW) Dr Tola Fakolade, said that the platform goes beyond digitisation, streamlining processes, eliminating duplication and ensuring single submission for exporters.
Fakolade said that the success of NSW would be measured by uptime, adoption, export volume and value for users today in Nigeria.
He said that user satisfaction surveys would measure whether platform delivered promises, made lives easier and ensured exporters felt impact of reforms across Nigeria in Lagos today for growth and prosperity.
He said that roles and access were assigned by job function, giving freight forwarders, importers, exporters and agencies different permissions to apply for permits on behalf of clients in Lagos.
He said that the help desk numbers and support centres in Lagos simplified registration, resolving issues within 24 hours and guiding users through onboarding, OTP and security checks for exporters.
Comptroller in Charge of Modernisation Nigeria Customs Service Anyanwu Fayam, said that service was digitising processes, simplifying procedures and harmonising processes in line with accurate information and representation for exporters.
He said that digitisation would ensure compliance and operational efficiency, removing paper-based bottlenecks and improving coordination between regulatory agencies and customs for seamless export documentation across Nigeria in Lagos today now.
He said that Customs worked with agencies to harmonise processes, eliminate duplication and ensure exporters submitted documents once through one coordinated platform for faster clearance and trade facilitation in Lagos today.
Head National Product Certification Department Standard Organisation of Nigeria Mrs Arumemi Phebean said SON leveraged Single Window for visibility, traceability and verification of product certification information for exporters in Lagos.
She said that exporters would register, meet requirements and receive certification, then continue other processes on platform through harmonised system without worrying about navigating certification separately in Lagos today for growth.
Phebean said that quality component for Made in Nigeria products was covered, ensuring certification, compliance and confidence for buyers in destination markets across the world from Nigeria in Lagos today now.
Deputy Director National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC) Dr Dunage Afam, said his agency embraced digitisation early, building systems on quality processing, inspection, certification and eventual products for exporters today Lagos.
He said that Single Window offered opportunity to streamline processes, simplify business at ports and reduce overlaps affecting exporters seeking registration, certification, inspection and verification of regulatory approvals in Lagos today.
She said that successes in imports would extend to Phase Two exports, bringing informal exporters into system and ensuring compliance among regulators and exporters using platform for trade facilitation.
Deputy Director, National Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Dr Dunoi Adam, said biggest challenge was regulatory compliance at origin and destination, confusing documentation requirements and varying rules for product classes today Lagos.
He said that Single Window would streamline procedures and documentation locally and at destination, addressing overlaps through planned meetings and reducing time exporters spent across agencies for approvals.
Stakeholders at event raised questions on onboarding, data centres, help desks, bank integration, NXP processing and real-time visibility of permits, shipments, clearance and repatriation obligations for exporters.
They commended National Single Window Secretariat, Customs, NEPC and partner agencies, urging sustained engagement, support and integration to ensure platform delivered seamless, transparent and competitive export processes.
The event attracted over 500 stakeholders from importers and exporters who commended the NSW coordinator for driving reforms and ensuring seamless trade facilitation across Nigeria for prosperity.
