…Says 169,000 licenses, permits so far processed
The phase two of the National Single Window (NSW) has just been rolled out in the Port Harcourt zone, and officials say it is targeted at lifting burdens off Nigerian exporters and importers.
This is as over 169,000 licenses and permits have so far been processed with over 12,400 importers and agents registered.
Tola Fakolade, Project Director, National Single Window, who disclosed this at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt at the rollout of the phase two of the scheme, said the managers of the scheme were focusing on reviews that would drastically reduce the burdens faced by Nigeria’s international traders.
A major area of concern, he mentioned, is duplication of functions by multiple agencies of government.
He said it was a hard lesson learnt in the phase 1 whereby up to four agencies get involved in one task in processing export, thereby creating repeat of same task by an exporter or importer.
He mentioned other challenges noticed from the first phase, such as lack of full awareness, challenges of competitiveness, frequent change of rules in some countries, lack of research on the part of some international traders, etc.
It was learnt that some agencies still operate analogue, thus complicating the NSW operations.
Read also: Non-oil revenue hits N16.4 trillion, 96% of Nigeria’s GDP – Tinubu
Part of the strategies to make the phase 2 better is to intensify training, broaden awareness, go beyond Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano into other cities.
The NSW boss disclosed that over 169,000 licenses and permits had so far been processed with over 12,400 importers and agents registered.
He added that 27 airlines have been on-boarded unto the NSW while 4,009 air cargo manifests, 56 shipping lines with 405 sea manifests have been transmitted through the platform.
In her welcome address, Ngozi Ibe, the Regional Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotions Council (NEPC), noted that Nigeria’s ambition to expand its non-oil export base required more than increased production.
“It requires an efficient, transparent and globally competitive trade environment that enables our exporters to access international markets with fewer bottlenecks. This is where the National Single Window becomes particularly significant”, she said.
She stated that the commencement of Phase 2, the ‘Export Component’, scheduled for December 2026, the registration and renewal of exporters’ certificates will be conducted entirely through the NSW portal. “This transition calls for adequate awareness, preparedness and cooperation from all stakeholders.
“Our exporters must not only be aware of this transition; they must be ready to embrace it.”
Ibe showed appreciation on the collaboration of the National Single Window team in bringing the engagement to the stakeholders in the South-South region. “We are confident that this partnership will contribute meaningfully to a more efficient and responsive export environment.”
Speaking, Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, who was represented by Ndubueze Okeke, Director, Trade Information, said Nigeria’s non-oil export sector generated $6.1 billion in export earnings, representing an 11.5% increase over the $5.46 billion recorded in 2024.
The CEO said export volumes also increased by 10% to 8.02 million metric tonnes, with 281 non-oil products exported to 120 countries.
He said, “These achievements demonstrate our growing export potential, but they also reinforce the need to strengthen the systems that support international trade.
“This is where the National Single Window becomes particularly important. The NSW is a Federal Government initiative designed to streamline international trade processes through a unified digital platform for the submission and processing of trade-related documentation, permits and approvals.
“It seeks to improve inter-agency coordination, eliminate duplication, enhance transparency and reduce the administrative burden on businesses.”
The NEPC boss said: “As the agency responsible for promoting, developing and diversifying Nigeria’s non-oil exports, we recognize that efficient trade facilitation is essential to achieving our mandate. NEPC has commenced its engagement and onboarding towards integrating relevant export-related processes into the platform. Our Exporter’s Certificate registration service, currently facilitated.
“It is equally important for exporters to understand the relationship between the NSW platform, the Trade Monitoring System (TRMS), and the processing of Forms NXP and NCX, as well as the applicable registration, permit and certification requirements. Our objective is to ensure a seamless transition that simplifies processes rather than creates additional burdens for businesses.”
Time was given for questions and responses, including those asked by Ofon Udofia, executive secretary of the Institute of Export Operations and Management (IEOM), as well as those asked by Anthony Emeh, a monarch from Imo State who is a seasoned exporter.
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