Tola Fakolade, the director of the National Single Window (NSW) project, says the second phase of its export operations will begin on December 14 to simplify trade documentation and improve export processes.

Mr Fakolade disclosed this at a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos on Tuesday. He explained that the platform allowed traders to submit required documents once and receive regulatory approvals through a single system.

According to him, the platform also serves as a central repository for trade data, promoting transparency, efficiency and collaboration among government agencies.

Mr Fakolade said that the NSW concept was developed by the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business, the World Trade Organisation and the World Customs Organisation.

He said President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the project on April 16, 2024, and its first phase began on March 27, focusing on licences, permits, certificates and trade manifests.

He restated that the NSW was not designed to take over the statutory responsibilities, revenue or jobs of participating agencies, but to improve coordination and facilitate trade.

Updating on the project’s performance since its launch, Mr Fakolade said 169,211 licences, permits and certificates had been processed, with more than 12,000 importers and agents registered.

He added that 27 airlines had been onboarded, with more than 4,000 electronic manifests transmitted, while 20 shipping lines were also participating.

The director said that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria now process all their licences and permits through the platform.

He said that efforts were also ongoing to address overlapping product regulations through Harmonised System code mapping in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service.

Mr Fakolade said that lessons from the first phase, particularly in stakeholder engagement, training and change management, would guide the second phase. He explained that the second phase would focus on exports, including export licences, permits and free trade zones.

According to him, the rollout will be implemented in two batches, with the first batch involving agencies issuing export permits scheduled to commence on December 14, while the second batch, including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) processes, will begin in the first quarter of 2027.

Also speaking, the zonal coordinator, Zone A, NCS, Frank Onyeka, described the project as critical to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s export transformation agenda.

Mr Onyeka said processing more than 169,000 licences and permits demonstrated the platform’s growing role in facilitating domestic and international trade. He said that the Customs Service was working to ensure that exporters were properly registered and equipped to use the platform.

He added that the service would continue to train its officers and strengthen collaboration with agents and port operators to ensure effective implementation.

Mr Onyeka said that the second phase would create more opportunities for export activities, increase trade value and strengthen Nigeria’s position in international markets.

(NAN)