Airlines, Shipping Firms Key To Single Window Success – Customs CG

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Adewale Adeniyi
has stated that airline and shipping line operators remain critical partners in ensuring a smooth transition to the National Single Window (NSW) platform, which aims to modernise Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement with airline and shipping line operators in Abuja, the Customs CG assured industry players that adequate support structures are being put in place to facilitate a seamless migration to the new system.

Adeniyi, who was represented by the deputy comptroller-general of Customs in charge of ICT and modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s trade modernisation and digital transformation agenda through the successful implementation of the Single Window initiative.

According to him, the collaboration and support of key stakeholders across the aviation and maritime sectors have been instrumental in the progress recorded so far in the Service’s modernisation drive.

The Customs boss also disclosed that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has mandated the Service to take decisive steps toward the successful launch of the Single Window project, a reform designed to position Nigeria as a competitive hub in global trade.

To ensure a smooth rollout, Adeniyi noted that a dedicated help desk staffed with trained personnel will be established to promptly address operational challenges that may arise during the transition.

“A help desk with well-trained personnel will be available to address any operational challenges that may arise during the rollout,” the Comptroller-General stated.

Earlier, at an awareness programme held on March 3, 2025, the Service had rallied stakeholders and partner agencies to support the initiative, describing the National Single Window as a strategic reform aligned with Customs’ core mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation and improved inter-agency coordination.

Speaking at the programme, Adebakin described the NSW as a major milestone in the Service’s ongoing modernisation efforts, revealing that the NCS had spent several months undertaking preparatory work to ensure the framework reflects operational realities and supports seamless implementation.

“This is a national project, but Customs is at the centre of its execution,” she said. “The success of the Single Window depends on collective understanding and cooperation. We must all appreciate its value because we cannot effectively promote what we do not fully understand.”

She also reassured officers and industry stakeholders that the initiative is designed to strengthen institutional capacity rather than replace human resources, noting that the deployment of technology will enhance efficiency, transparency and speed in cargo clearance and trade documentation processes.

Also speaking at the programme, the Director of the NSW Project, Tola Fakolade, acknowledged the pivotal leadership role of the NCS in driving the implementation process.

“Our number one stakeholder is the NCS,” Fakolade said. “We have maintained a strong and constructive working relationship. Customs’ participation and institutional experience are critical to the success of this project.”

With the Customs spearheading coordination and stakeholder engagement, the National Single Window project is expected to significantly transform Nigeria’s trade environment, boost revenue generation and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global trading system.