- To reduce cargo evacuation from 21 days to under 7 days
BY COBHAM NSA – Packaged as part of ongoing reforms to boost the economy, the Federal Government has launched Phase 1 of the National Single Window (NSW) platform to moderate Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
Unveiling the platform in Lagos recently, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun said the coordinated reform is designed to decrease terminal idle time, reduce trade costs, and unlock economic growth.
According to Edun, “Nigeria has taken a decisive step to modernise its trade ecosystem with the launch of Phase 1 of the National Single Window (NSW). It coincides with the deal last week to upgrade Apapa (Built 1913) and Tin Can (Built 1977) Ports.
“This is a coordinated reform designed to cut cargo dwell time, reduce trade costs, and unlock economic growth.”
The Minister stated that the NSW and port modernisation are part of a wider economic strategy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to strengthen macroeconomic stability, improve ease of doing business, attract and scale investment, and target seven (7) percent medium-term economic growth.
Noting that “These reforms demonstrate a coordinated, system-wide approach to economic transformation,” Mr Edun further said as of 2025, cargo dwell time in Nigerian ports averages 18–21 days, approximately 475 percent higher than the global average of four (4) days.
He lamented that the inability to reduce the period goods sit in a warehouse or terminal has resulted in high cost of doing business, delays for importers and exporters, and reduced competitiveness of Nigerian goods.
The Minister, who acknowledged that 73 percent of cargo dwell time is “transaction dwell time” spent on documentation, Customs processing and regulatory approvals, expressed confidence that the Phase 1 of the NSW directly targets the 73 percent transaction delay component by: Introducing one single digital platform for trade documentation, while also eliminating multiple agency visits and duplicative processes.
He explained that other areas to be addressed include, Enabling Electronic submission of Licences, Permits, Certificates (LPCOs); Digital manifest processing; Centralised risk management across agencies; Transparent electronic payments; Faster document processing; Reduced human interface and bottlenecks; as well as promote predictable and transparent timelines.
Edun said besides addressing the 73 percent delays as part of measures to tackle port inefficiency at its root, the reforms in upgrading the ports would ensure that physical movement matches digital efficiency.
Additionally, the Minister assured that the reforms would not only streamline container logistics from 21 days to under 7 days in 2026, they are meant to reduce costs, boost trade, and improve competitiveness with the partnership model delivering real, and measurable benefits to Nigeria.
Experts are in agreement with the government that designed to make Nigeria faster, more competitive, and fully integrated into global trade, the NSW unveiling and the Apapa and Tin Can Ports upgrade represent a turning point in the country’s trade and economic trajectory.
