Skepticism Hits NSW Implementation As Musa Raises Concerns

BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS

The Nigerian National Single Window (NSW) project, set for deployment later this month, has come under scrutiny as logistics expert Dr. Segun Musa warned that government agencies may sabotage its implementation.

Musa, Chairman and Managing Director of Widescope Logistics International, said the project risks becoming “a shell without content” if agencies fail to fully commit to online processing. He explained that resistance from even one agency could cripple the system, as consignments would not be able to leave the port without complete digital clearance.

“Single Window is just a jamboree; it might end up becoming like the Deep Blue Sea project. If even one agency refuses to process documents online, consignments will not leave the port”, Musa said.

This is concerns are coming at a time the National Single Window Committee has rolled out extensive preparations ahead of the March 27 launch. End user training sessions began on February 16 across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and other regions. Stakeholders including importers, exporters, customs brokers, and freight associations are being trained on how to navigate the system.

Director of the NSW Committee, Mr. Tola Fakolade, emphasized the importance of the training, noting that laptops are provided for hands-on practice. A transition committee has also been set up, comprising representatives from agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Quarantine, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Fakolade disclosed that Help desks and walk-in centers are being established to support stakeholders during the rollout. It is instructive that while the NSW aims to unify trade processes under one digital platform, agencies have varying levels of readiness. For instance, Customs already operates digital clearance systems while NAFDAC and SON run electronic platforms for product registration and certification, which could integrate smoothly if harmonized. This is even as Quarantine and NESREA remain heavily reliant on physical documentation, raising concerns about their ability to adapt.

CRFFN has voiced skepticism about the rushed implementation, echoing Musa’s warning. The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), which drives the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business reforms, has consistently pushed for streamlined regulations and digital innovations to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.

In partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), PEBEC recently inaugurated the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee to cut cargo dwell time and improve port efficiency. Princess Zahrah Mustapha, Director General of PEBEC, noted that efficient seaports are crucial to reducing costs for port users and unlocking economic opportunities. PEBEC’s broader agenda aligns with the NSW project, aiming to make Nigeria’s trade environment more transparent and competitive.

The NSW project is designed to streamline trade, reduce corruption, and enhance transparency. However, Musa’s alarm highlights the risk of entrenched interests undermining reform. If agencies fail to align, the platform could remain symbolic rather than transformative.

For now, the project stands at a crossroads: with training and transition structures in place, success depends on whether government agencies embrace the system or resist it to protect existing practices.