The Trade War Committee of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has urged stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime and trade sector to adopt an open and collaborative approach as the country prepares for the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) system.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of the committee, Increase Uche, he highlighted several concerns that require urgent attention to ensure the successful rollout of the initiative designed to streamline trade documentation and improve efficiency at Nigeria’s ports.
According to the committee, one of the key issues is the potential duplication of digital platforms currently being developed by the Nigeria Customs Service. The Service is expanding its B’Odogwu Customs Clearance System while also introducing a web application for obtaining and renewing licences and permits.
The committee advised that the Single Window administrator should harmonise these platforms and manage licensing and permit processes centrally to prevent duplication.
It warned that maintaining multiple digital systems could force traders to navigate several platforms, submit the same information repeatedly, and risk inconsistencies in trade data. The committee stressed that the concept of a Single Window should ideally mean a unified platform for all trade documentation to enhance transparency, integrity, and efficiency.
The statement also raised concerns about possible institutional resistance, noting that the development of parallel systems by Customs could undermine the central objective of the Single Window.
“If this trend continues, the Single Window may simply become another portal instead of serving as the central platform for trade facilitation,” the committee said.
Another issue identified was the weak integration of regulatory agencies, particularly the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN). The committee noted that during registration on the NSW portal, some practitioners are not being routed to CRFFN for regulatory verification, despite the council’s statutory role in regulating freight forwarding practice in Nigeria.
It also pointed out that the portal does not currently account for the automatic collection of the council’s Practitioners Operating Fee (POF), suggesting that once a consignment document is submitted on the NSW portal, the fee should be automatically calculated and billed to the consignee or their freight forwarder.
Despite the concerns, the committee commended the administrators of the NSW portal for their efforts in sensitising freight forwarding practitioners about the impending transition.
The committee further called on the Nigeria Customs Service, as the lead government agency in the trade process, to intensify awareness and education among freight forwarders. It also urged the CRFFN to strengthen its regulatory responsibilities by promoting skills acquisition and professional knowledge among practitioners.
Highlighting the broader objective of the reform, the committee noted that systems such as the Single Window portal, Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), and the B’Odogwu platform are simply tools intended to facilitate trade.
“What is important is that all stakeholders approach the process with an open mind to ensure the success of the new order,” the committee stated.
The group stressed that the initiative should not be viewed as a contest among institutions but rather as a national effort to improve Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
“It is not about Customs, the Single Window operator, CRFFN, or other critical stakeholders. It is about Nigeria and the realisation of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda aimed at strengthening the nation’s economy and global trade competitiveness,” the statement added.
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