PEBEC, Customs, NRS Assess National Single Window Rollout, Move to Address Operational Challenges
PEBEC, Customs, NRS Assess National Single Window Rollout, Move to Address Operational Challenges
PEBEC, Customs, NRS Assess National Single Window Rollout, Move to Address Operational Challenges
The Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Mustapha Audu, alongside the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, have conducted an assessment visit to the National Single Window (NSW) office in Apapa, Lagos, to evaluate the platform’s rollout and address emerging operational issues.
During the visit, Dr. Adedeji assured stakeholders that the Federal Government is taking steps to mitigate the financial impact of initial technical glitches experienced on the platform. He disclosed that engagements are ongoing with terminal operators to waive demurrage charges on containers affected by system delays.
He urged stakeholders to remain focused on the long-term benefits of the National Single Window initiative, noting that while early-stage challenges are expected, the platform represents a major shift toward efficiency by consolidating cargo documentation processes into a single point of submission, replacing the previous system that required multiple submissions across different agencies.
Similarly, Adeniyi reaffirmed confidence in the platform’s resilience, highlighting the team’s success in resolving early technical issues, including glitches related to DHL manifest uploads and integration of shipping company data. He drew parallels with the initial rollout of the Customs B’Odogwu platform, which faced similar concerns but has since stabilised.
On her part, Audu described the National Single Window as a transformative solution for businesses involved in import and export trade. She acknowledged the current challenges as typical “teething problems” associated with new technology, stressing the importance of embracing innovation to keep pace with global trends.
She expressed optimism that the initiative would significantly improve port efficiency, noting that with sustained collaboration and political will, the government’s target of reducing cargo dwell time to less than seven days—and potentially to three to four days—remains achievable.
The joint visit underscores a coordinated effort among key government agencies to ensure the successful implementation of the National Single Window, with a focus on enhancing trade facilitation, reducing bottlenecks, and improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
PEBEC, Customs, NRS Assess National Single Window Rollout, Move to Address Operational Challenges
