Esther Oritse
Lagos — In a move to strengthen cargo tracking and transparency, the Nigerian Government, through the Ministry of Finance, has directed all shipping companies and airlines operating in Nigeria to submit their manifests to the Single Window Project, SWP.
Recall that before now, the submission of shipping manifests was handled exclusively by the Nigeria Customs Service for onward cargo processing and port clearance.
In a memo with reference number FMF/OHMF/CW/NSW/01 and dated 17th of November, 2025, all shipping firms and airlines were directed to integrate with the National Single Window platform.
The Memo which was signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, all shipping lines and airlines are directed to integrate with the NSW Platform to ensure seamless Manifests submission.
Part of the Memo reads: “I would like to bring to your attention that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated the National Single Window (NSW) Project on the 16th of April 2024.
The NSW Project aims to streamline and automate import and export processes at Nigeria’s entry & exit ports, with the dual goals of enhancing trade facilitation and increasing government revenue.
“By integrating the operations of multiple government agencies involved in trade processes on one platform, the NSW platform will ensure faster clearance of goods and services, improve operational efficiencies at the imports and significantly reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“Key components of the Single Window as defined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO) include: (a) a single-entry point i.e. traders, shipping lines, airlines and other stakeholders should submit all required import and export documentation through a single-entry point on a centralized digital platform, and (b) single submission i.e. all documentation should only be submitted once and data only entered once.
“As a result, the NSW Platform will be the single-entry point of submission for all Sea and Air Manifests. Therefore, all shipping lines and airlines are therefore directed to integrate with the NSW Platform to ensure seamless Manifests submission.”
The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were copied in the Memo.
