The Federal Government has moved to reduce export costs eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate trade processes through the implementation of the second phase of the National Single Window (NSW) a digital platform designed to simplify Nigeria’s import and export procedures.
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Mrs Nonye Ayeni disclosed this on Monday in Enugu during the National Single Window Phase 2 (Export) Stakeholders’ Sensitisation and Engagement Session held at Hotel Sunshine.
Ayeni whose address was read by the Southeast Regional Coordinator of the agency Mustapha Umar Farouk said the initiative would connect relevant government agencies through a unified digital platform reducing duplication improving transparency and making cargo clearance more efficient for Nigerian businesses.
She stressed that export competitiveness depended not only on product quality but also on the efficiency of procedures involved in moving goods from producers to international buyers.
‘Export competitiveness depends on more than the quality of a product. It also depends on whether that product can move from producer to buyer efficiently with the right documentation clear regulatory requirements and reliable timelines’ she said.
According to her delays and uncertainty in export procedures could affect product quality delivery commitments financing costs and buyers’ confidence particularly for businesses dealing in perishable agricultural products.
She said small and medium-sized enterprises stood to benefit significantly from simplified regulatory requirements reduced administrative burdens and improved access to international markets.
Ayeni urged government agencies and private sector operators to collaborate towards effective implementation stressing that the platform must be accessible reliable and responsive to the practical needs of businesses.
‘The National Single Window should therefore be judged by the practical difference it makes to businesses. Exporters need a platform that is accessible dependable and responsive’ she said.
She reaffirmed NEPC’s commitment to supporting the initiative through export documentation guidance capacity building market information and trade linkages to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian products.
In his presentation the Director of Operations of the National Single Window Project Mr Peter Ekunkoya said the engagement was organised to sensitise exporters promote stakeholder collaboration and secure support for the second phase.
He explained that the NSW would provide a centralised digital platform where traders clearing agents and other stakeholders could submit standardised information and documents to fulfil import export and transit regulatory requirements.
Ekunkoya said the platform would replace the fragmented system in which businesses navigate multiple government agencies and largely manual processes providing a single-entry point for regulatory applications documentation and payments.
He disclosed that the first phase commenced operations on March 27 2026 covering import licences permits and certificates issued by agencies including NAFDAC the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) NESREA and NAQS.
Giving an update on its performance as of October 2026 he said the platform had processed 175138 licences and permits registered 12629 importers and agents fully onboarded five government agencies and trained more than 8000 users.
He added that 27 airlines had been onboarded for air cargo manifest transmission while 56 shipping lines had joined the platform for sea cargo manifest processing.
Ekunkoya said Phase 2 scheduled for delivery between the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027 would automate export licences permits certificates Registered Exporter Number applications warehouse registration and other export documentation.
He further disclosed that end-user training would run from November 16 to December 14 across Lagos Abuja Port Harcourt Kano and Enugu with the third phase expected between the third and fourth quarters of 2027 covering customs declarations Form M applications oil and gas processes and advanced risk analytics.
The project director urged exporters freight forwarders clearing agents and other stakeholders to embrace the platform saying its successful implementation would simplify trade reduce revenue leakages attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.