The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced user acceptance testing (UAT) for the National Single Window (NSW), marking a key milestone toward a unified, technology-driven trade ecosystem expected to go live in March 2026.
The initial testing involved the first cohort of stakeholders, guided by technology partner CrimsonLogic, who trained agencies and trade participants on the platform’s features, system navigation, and operational workflows.
Key Government Oversight
The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and FIRS Executive Chairman Dr. Zacch Adedeji, visited the UAT sites to assess progress and interact with participants. Representatives from regulatory and trade bodies, including the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Nigeria Customs Service, and the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), as well as importers, exporters, and clearing agents, were part of the testing process.
Streamlining Trade Processes
The testing phase allows stakeholders to validate workflows, align expectations, and assess system functionalities. Once fully operational, the NSW will harmonize documentation, reduce trade costs, eliminate duplication, and cut clearance timelines from 21 days to under seven, aligning Nigeria with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) digital trade standards.
Economic and Operational Benefits
Kingsley Igwe, Registrar and CEO of CRFFN, highlighted the platform’s global adoption in countries such as Singapore, South Korea, and Rwanda. He emphasized the potential economic benefits for Nigeria:
- Reducing logistics costs by 25–30%
- Boosting trade competitiveness and attracting investment
- Facilitating faster clearance of raw materials for manufacturers
- Supporting SMEs with simplified trade access
- Improving digital tracking for freight forwarders
Government Commitment
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, assured stakeholders at the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade Summit that the NSW platform will enhance transparency, operational efficiency, and Nigeria’s role as a standard-setter in port automation.
Both Edun and Adedeji praised the collaborative effort of participating ministries, departments, and agencies, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a modern, transparent, and technology-enabled trade environment.
