Nigeria Launches National Single Window Platform

Nigeria launched the first phase of its National Single Window digital trade platform on March 24, 2026, in Lagos, aiming to streamline import and export processes and reduce bureaucratic delays at the country's ports. The initiative, introduced under President Bola Tinubu's administration, integrates multiple government agencies into a single electronic system to simplify documentation, payments, and regulatory approvals for traders, shipping lines, and logistics operators.

The platform addresses longstanding inefficiencies in Nigeria's trade ecosystem, where cargo dwell times currently average 18 to 21 days, far exceeding the global benchmark of four days. Officials attribute 73 percent of these delays to documentation, customs processing, and regulatory hurdles. By enabling electronic submissions of licenses, permits, and certificates, as well as digital manifest processing and centralized risk management, the National Single Window seeks to cut these times to under seven days by year's end. Phase one, which went live on March 27, 2026, begins with one shipping line and one port, including integration with logistics provider DHL. Subsequent phases are planned for mid-2026...