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Customs agents seek clarification on status of B’Odogwu on National Single Window platform.

as project team meets stakeholders in Lagos.
Funso OLOJO, Editor 
Customs Licensed Agents, under the auspices of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), have sought to know the position of B’ Odogwu, in the emerging National Single Window project set to be launched in April, 2026.
B’Odogwu is the Customs’ trade platform where customs procedures, including payment of customs duties, are conducted.
On the other hand, National Single Window project is the Federal government trade platform where imports and exports transactions will be conducted in a single and harmonised platform.
The first phase of the platform will be launched in April, 2026.
However, the Customs Agents raised the concerns at a meeting with the NSW project team  in Lagos where they were told the project will be in phases.
The Customs Agents and  expressed concerns about possible hiccups during the transition period when all other trade platforms are expected to migrate to the NSW.
Speaking through Mr. Kingsley Emenike, the National President of ANLCA, the Customs Agents  sought clarification on the phase where duties would be accessed through the Single Window and what that would mean for the role of Customs units such as the Odogwu platform.
The Customs Agents raised these concerns at the town hall meeting held on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 where the NSW team, led by Mr Tola Fakolade, sensitised the stakeholders on the harmonised trade platform set to be launched in April, 2026.
The project team assured that the National Single Window will simplify Nigeria’s import and export processes, reduce delays, and eliminate the need for multiple document submissions at ports.
The assurance was given on Tuesday in Lagos during a town hall meeting with members of the Association of Nigeria Licensed.
 Fakolade explained that the initiative was conceived in line with global best practices championed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
He recalled that the idea gained momentum around April 16, 2024, with a clear objective: to make Nigeria’s import and export processes easier, faster, and less cumbersome for traders, customs brokers, licensed agents, and freight forwarders.
“The whole objective is how do we make import and export processes simpler for you,” Fakolade said.
 “The idea is that you will use only one platform for everything you need to do when it comes to import and export.”
According to him, the current system, despite some technological improvements across agencies, still forces users to log into multiple platforms to process permits, declarations, and other documentation.
“What we are doing now is bringing all of that into one platform,” he explained.
 “You log in once, complete everything you need to do on one platform, and submit all your documents only once.
” You don’t have to keep re-uploading your bill of lading and other documents on different systems.”
Fakolade said the NSW is designed to drive simplification, reduce duplication, cut delays, and make trade procedures more transparent and efficient for importers and their agents.
 He noted that the project has been developed over the last 18 months in collaboration with key stakeholders, including ANLCA, which he described as a major partner, adding that the association’s leadership has been very supportive of the initiative.
With the platform scheduled to go live before the end of the quarter, Fakolade said the town hall meeting was organised to ensure users clearly understand what is coming, how it will affect their daily operations, and how to prepare for the transition.
“We want to make sure there is clarity and proper understanding of what is going to change from the day we launch,” he said.
 “We also want to work together to ensure a successful launch.”
President of ANLCA, Mr. Kingsley Emenike Nwokeoji, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a long-overdue step towards ending the duplication of documents and multiple submissions that have plagued cargo clearance in Nigeria.
“What we are seeing so far is the political will of the present government to put an end to this multiplication of documents and submission of documents,” Nwokeoji said.
 “This programme is going to help us cover the functions of so many agencies of government.”
He pointed out that importers often deal with situations where a single product is regulated by two or even three government agencies, leading to repeated submissions and delays.
“With the single submission, whoever is raising any objection will do so on the same platform, and others will see why the cargo or process is being stopped. This will also help in time release,” he added.
Nwokeoji assured the project team of ANLCA’s support, praising the professionals driving the initiative and expressing confidence that the NSW would deliver the much-expected relief for practitioners.
“This will bring the relief we have been expecting, so that we can submit documents from the comfort of our offices and monitor the movement of our cargo,” he said.
However, he also raised key operational questions, particularly about the phased implementation of the system and its interaction with existing platforms.
He noted that the system would initially run side-by-side with the current platform and called for clear guidance on how that transition would work in practice.
In addition, the ANLCA president stressed the importance of training and user support, urging members to take advantage of available training centres across different locations to avoid the kind of confusion that often follows major system changes.
“We have gone through some of these transitions before. When some of us did not react early enough, we started running helter-skelter after launch,” he warned.
Members of the association also raised concerns during the interactive session, including fears of sabotage, possible network issues, manpower and skills gaps, and the integration of the Nigeria Customs Service’s B’ODOGWU system into the new platform.
Responding, Fakolade acknowledged that the National Single Window would not solve all challenges immediately at launch but insisted that it establishes a framework for sustained improvement and requires collective collaboration to succeed.
“We are laying the right foundation and putting the right processes in place,” he said.
 “The day we launch, we are not saying all issues in the import and export ecosystem will disappear. But it’s about starting the journey and ensuring that we all work together to drive adoption of the system.”
According to him, the NSW will offer a single interface for traders and agents, data harmonisation, improved transparency, e-payment, and centralised risk management.
On concerns about network reliability, Fakolade disclosed that support centres equipped with multiple internet service providers would be rolled out across major ports in the country.
He said this is part of broader efforts to reduce clearance costs and curb the diversion of Nigeria-bound cargo to neighbouring countries.
The Lagos town hall meeting ended with a renewed call for collaboration between government and the private sector, as both sides prepare for what is expected to be a major shift in the way trade is conducted at Nigeria’s ports.
 Stakeholders expressed optimism that, if successfully implemented and widely adopted, the National Single Window could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s quest for a more efficient, transparent, and competitive trade environment.
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IWD: SIFAX distributes 500 food packs to Ijora community, empowers staff 

Geraldine Samuel, Senior Correspondent 
In a series of impactful activities spanning a school outreach, an employee empowerment webinar and a community food donation drive, SIFAX Group has marked the 2026 International Women’s Day with a multi-pronged initiative that touched the lives of hundreds of girls, women employees and vulnerable residents in Lagos.
One of the highlights of the celebration was an outreach programme to United Christian Secondary School, Apapa, Lagos, where over 500 girls received mentorship from senior female employees of the company.
 The session covered topics such as leadership, education, personal development and menstrual health awareness.
There was also a donation of textbooks to the school, menstrual pads, as well as perfumes to the students.
The speakers drew from personal career experiences to motivate the students, urging them to remain focused on their education and resist distractions.
 They emphasised that determination and discipline could open doors across any field — from business and law to medicine, technology and the creative industries.
Jesuyemisi Odeyemi, Company Secretary and Legal Head of SIFAX Group, charged the students to strive for excellence without reservation.
 “You are strong. You can do it, and you will. You will not only do it, but you will also do it well, you will do it better,” she told the girls.
Vanessa Uansohia, Head of Corporate Communications at Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), SIFAX Group’s aviation arm, also challenged the students to confront self-limiting beliefs.
 “The only person that is stopping you is yourself,” she said, encouraging the girls to pursue their ambitions with bold confidence.
As part of internal activities to mark the day, the company also organised an interactive webinar for female employees focused on strengthening communication and leadership capacity in the workplace.
Speaking on the topic, “Speaking: A Tool for Growth, Multiplication, and Career Progression,” Public Speaking Strategist, Joyce Daniels, urged participants to embrace public speaking as a catalyst for professional advancement, noting that confidence and conviction are the cornerstones of effective communication.
“If you will grow, multiply and have progression in your career, you will speak from a place of conviction,” she said, adding that impactful leaders distinguish themselves by their willingness to boldly articulate their ideas.
Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, Group Coordinating Director, SIFAX Group, described International Women’s Day as a moment to celebrate the social, economic and cultural achievements of women while renewing the call for gender equality.
“This year’s theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with our mission of inclusivity and empowerment.
” Every woman is a leader in her own right, and giving back creates growth opportunities for individuals, organisations and communities,” she said.
Extending its impact beyond the workplace, SIFAX Group also carried out a community outreach to Ijora where 500 bags of assorted food items were distributed to vulnerable households.
Each pack was assembled with essential household staples — rice, beans, vegetable oil, garri and salt, carefully curated to provide tangible relief to families within the community.
The distribution was conducted in collaboration with community leaders to ensure a transparent and orderly process.
Eniola-Jegede, who coordinated the outreach, noted that the initiative reflects the organisation’s culture of compassion and its determination to give back to the communities in which it operates.
She added that the exercise was also designed to amplify the message of International Women’s Day by encouraging women within the organisation to lead community interventions that uplift vulnerable groups.
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IWD: Mobereola, NIMASA DG, celebrates women for their contributions to maritime industry 

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , Dr Dayo Mobereola, has applauded the contributions of women to the development of the Nigerian Maritime industry.

In a goodwill message to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day with the theme “Give to Gain”, Dr Mobereola celebrated the strength, expertise and invaluable contributions of women to the sector, emphasising that the industry has gained progress, innovation and sustainable growth through their efforts.

According to him “I celebrate your strength, expertise, and invaluable contributions to our maritime industry.

“The theme #GiveToGain reflects your daily impact. Through your professionalism, leadership, and resilience across sea-going, regulatory, technical, and administrative roles, you give excellence and our sector gains progress, innovation, and sustainable growth.”

Mobereola further commended the dedication of women in the industry and reaffirmed his commitment to “a maritime industry where every woman is empowered to lead and thrive”.

International Women’s Day is a global observance that seeks to draw attention to challenges faced by women and the need to ensure gender equity.

This year’s theme “Give to Gain”, focuses on investing in women through resources, education, and mentorship to create a stronger, more equitable society, highlighting the fact that empowering women brings collective benefits; economies, communities, and workplaces all grow when women thrive.

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IWD: 60 percent of my aides, technical assistants are women – Danthoso, NPA MD, declares as he celebrates women.

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abubakar Danthoso, has said that he was intentional in his prioritizing  gender equality in key appointments at the NPA.

While eulogizing the role of women in the maritime industry as part of his message to women during the International Women’s Day celebration, Dr Danthoso, declared that 60 percent of his aides and technical assistants are women.

“Women hold 60 percent of these roles(personal aides and technical assistants) with men making up the remaining 40 percent.

“This intentional step underscores NPA’s commitment to advancing women’s participation and success across the maritime industry.” he stated.

Danthoso said he recognizes the remarkable contributions of to the progress and success of NPA “who continue to drive progress, break barriers, and shape a more equitable future for the sector.”

” The Nigerian Ports Authority proudly celebrates the resilience, dedication, and invaluable contributions of women in the maritime sector—including firefighting, security, piloting, engineering, hydrography, administrative and vessel-support services such as aids to navigation.

” These remarkable women are excelling even in roles that traditionally demand male-kind of strength”

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