Licensed customs agents and freight forwarders under the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) have thrown their weight behind the National Single Window (NSW) Project, describing it as a long-awaited relief for operators.
The associations endorsed the project and pledged their full support for its implementation during separate town hall meetings, with ANLCA members engaged this week in Apapa, Lagos.
The national president of ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji, described the NSW project as a much-needed reform for licensed agents, expressing excitement over the strong government backing and the political will of the present administration to end the multiplication of documents and repeated submissions.
Nwokeoji expressed confidence that the initiative would address overlapping functions among government agencies and ensure that any objections raised on the platform would be visible to all stakeholders. This, he said, would enhance transparency, speed up cargo clearance, and enable agents to submit documents remotely while tracking the movement of their cargo.
“This project is going to help in making our jobs easier. That’s why we are giving the needed support within our capacity. I believe strongly on behalf of every licensed customs agent that it will succeed”, he said.
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At the NAGAFF engagement on Wednesday, the national president, Tochukwu Ezisi, described the move as a positive and timely development that would significantly improve efficiency, transparency and ease of doing business in the sector.
He said the association fully supports the initiative and welcomes it wholeheartedly, affirming that with the right training and stakeholder engagement, the reform would deliver its intended benefits to the industry and the national economy.
On his part, the founder of NAGAFF, Dr Boniface Aniebonam described the Single Window as a major breakthrough for the maritime sector. He said the interactive nature of the platform would make business transactions more seamless across the industry, adding that the project would add value to operational standards and enhance due process.
“The single window platform is the best thing that is going to happen in the maritime sector, because it’s interactive. NAGAFF members will fully support this project, and we are always eager to embrace due process”, he said.
The leadership of the associations urged members to fully embrace the programme, drawing lessons from past transitions where delayed adoption led to operational challenges. They also emphasised the importance of training offered by the NSW team and advised members to register online, attend sessions at any of the designated centres and share the knowledge gained with their staff.
Earlier, director of the NSW Project, Tola Fakolade, outlined a phased transition strategy designed to manage risks and address teething challenges early, explaining that the rollout would take place in three stages over a maximum period of 12 months.
Fakolade reiterated that Phase One will commence on March 27, 2026, which includes: Licenses, certificates and permits (LCPO) application submission – Imports; manifests submission (air cargo, and sea); and centralised risk management for regulatory agencies.
Phase Two is scheduled for Q2–Q3 2026: Licenses, certificates and permits (LCPO) application submission – Exports; export process application e.g. NXP; form M process to be initiated on the SW platform and data analysis, reports and dashboard, while Phase Three in Q1 2027 will address declaration submission; duties assessment and payment; Advanced Risk Analytics (ARA); Trade Visualisation System (TVS) and operational reports and dashboards.
Fakolade assured stakeholders that all processes not captured in the first phase would continue on the existing platforms of the relevant government agencies.
He disclosed that the project would be supported by an intensive two-day, hands-on training programme for licensed customs agents and freight forwarders, to be conducted over four weeks across the country, advising participants to register for centres closest to them, while also stressing that stakeholder consultations would remain ongoing to receive additional inputs on areas requiring improvement as implementation progresses.
He further revealed plans to establish support centres equipped with internet access at major ports, beginning with Apapa Port, adding that a help desk and walk-in support centres would also be available after launch to provide assistance and ensure a seamless transition to the new system.
