President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the National Single Window (NSW) Steering Committee to ensure the full implementation of the digital trade facilitation platform by the first quarter of 2026.
This directive was delivered during the fifth NSW Steering Committee meeting, which held on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja. The meeting was chaired on behalf of the President by his Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Gbajabiamila said the NSW initiative is a critical component of the administration’s economic reform strategy, especially in view of the Tax Reform Acts signed into law in June 2025. He emphasized that the success of the NSW project would be key to achieving President Tinubu’s long-term vision of a $1 trillion economy.
“It’s important that we continue to stay focused on this project, so that at the end of the day, we meet our timelines and achieve the results the President expects,” he said. “This project is one of the transformative initiatives of Mr. President, which we must collectively implement effectively.”
Launched in April 2024, the National Single Window is designed to simplify Nigeria’s trade processes by creating a unified digital platform that brings together all government agencies involved in import and export operations. The goal is to reduce delays, increase transparency, cut trade costs, and improve overall efficiency at the nation’s ports.
Gbajabiamila noted that implementing the system will boost foreign investments, enhance government revenue, and strengthen Nigeria’s global trade reputation.
“I expect that since the last steering committee meeting in April, all stakeholders have actively worked towards the required Key Performance Indicators and targets so we can go live with Phase 1 by Q1 2026,” he added.
Also speaking at the meeting, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, acknowledged progress but insisted that implementation must now take precedence over planning.
“Execution is key. This is a complex but transformational initiative. We must collaborate more and resolve any remaining hurdles to meet the timeline,” Edun said.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, echoed the call for commitment, urging all stakeholders to push hard to deliver the project within the stipulated timeline.
Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), praised the President’s support for the project and noted that the NSW now enjoys legal backing. “It is no longer just a project; it is law. The Single Window is now part of our national legal framework,” he said, encouraging the committee to remain focused on the mission.
Providing a progress update, Director of the NSW Project, Mr. Tola Fakolade, announced that all milestones set for Q2 2025 had been met. He revealed that customisation of the platform has already begun, and expressed confidence that the Q1 2026 launch target would be achieved.
The NSW Steering Committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, FIRS, Nigeria Customs Service, and other trade-related agencies.
Once operational, the National Single Window is expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s standing in global trade rankings by cutting bureaucratic bottlenecks, improving the ease of doing business, and promoting greater transparency across the trade value chain.
