Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s trade and revenue systems are set for a major shakeup as the Federal Government announced that the long-awaited National Single Window, NSW, project will go live in the first quarter of 2026, in a move expected to cut costs, reduce bottlenecks, and boost competitiveness in global commerce.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this after chairing the 63rd quarterly meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Board at Customs House, Abuja.
“The National Single Window is a legacy project of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It will revolutionise trade by reducing bottlenecks, cutting costs, and speeding up cargo clearance. This combination of digital automation and efficiency will significantly boost our economy,” Edun said.
The NSW initiative, backed by the Trade Modernisation Project Limited, will integrate all trade-related agencies on a single digital platform, harmonising clearance processes and tackling bureaucracy that has long undermined Nigeria’s competitiveness. Customs has already deployed WCO-accredited officers to drive the reform, from drafting business process requirements to vendor selection.
Edun explained that the reform is expected to reinforce fiscal stabilisation policies already yielding results in the wider economy.
“The reform will complement ongoing fiscal measures, which have already begun stabilising inflation, improving the exchange rate, and strengthening Nigeria’s trade balance and foreign reserves,” he noted.
Alongside unveiling the NSW roadmap, the Minister announced strong revenue gains by Customs in the first half of 2025.
Between January and June, Customs collected N3.68 trillion, surpassing its projection by 11.85% and recording a 25% year-on-year growth compared to the same period in 2024.
“Revenue for the first six months stood at about N3.7 trillion, which is above target by almost 12 percent and represents a strong improvement over last year. Customs has demonstrated that reforms and technology can significantly enhance revenue mobilisation,” Edun said.
The Minister stressed that Customs’ performance was critical for national development, noting that the Service’s collections feed directly into the Federation Account.
“The revenue being generated feeds directly into the Federation Account and supports the budget of all tiers of government. With the Single Window initiative fully operational, we expect even greater efficiency and higher returns,” he added.
