Headlines

NSW: a platform of pains, tears as importers, agents recount bitter experiences

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The National Single Window (NSW), a digitalized single trade platform meant to be a one- stop- shop for faster and seemless platform for goods clearance at the Nigerian ports, is gradually turning into a single window of pains, tears and lamentation for the trading public.

Initiated by the Federal government to boost trade facilitation at the ports through harmonization of all the trading platforms and their agencies into one single platform, the NSW was launched with fanfare on March 24th, 2026.

Its launch was met with expectations and high hopes by importers, exporters and the clearing agents who believed and hoped the digital platform will put an end to delays in good clearance, enhance faster and seemless cargo clearance and lead to reduced cost of doing business at the ports.

However , the reverse has been the case ever since the digital platform went live on March 27th, 2026.

It has been a tale of woes and lamentation from the members of the trading public who claimed the platform, which was supposed to enhance their transactions, has come to distort the clearing process it is meant to improve.

The introduction of the platform has triggered system glitches which have made it difficult for transactions and entries to be uploaded on the NSW platform in real time, thereby trapping goods at the ports that are daily accumulating demurrages.

For the little entries being uploaded on the portal, it has been marked by long and agonizing delays with attendant costs.

At the one -day seminar organized by a group of maritime journalists under the aegis of Media Anti-Corruption Initiative (MACI) held on Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 in Lagos, participants came hard on the NWS steering committee Chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, the project National coordinator, Tola Fakolade and the whole team for poor preparations and sensitisation of stakeholders.

They claimed that if adequate trials of the new single electronic platform was done, all the so -called teething problems which have now hobbled the performance and efficiency of the new initiative could have been identified and resolved before the launch date.

” But because they are more interested in keeping to the first quarter of 2026 deadline given to them by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they paid little attention to details” one of the speakers at the seminar alledged.

At the MACI seminar, under the theme: National Single Window: Strategies to avert failure, importers, exporters and customs licensed agents recounted their unpalatable experiences under the NSW regime.

Alhaji Akeem Adebayo Ayobiojo, a freight forwarder and one of the speakers at the event, gave a vivid details of the agonizing delays they were being subjected to under the NSW .

He disclosed that at NAFDAC and SON offices, two of the government agencies operating under the NSW, there is a backlog of documents waiting to be uploaded on the NSW platform.

For instance, he said there are more than 5,000 SON CAPS certificates waiting to be uploaded into NSW platform.

“As Customs Licensed Agents and freight forwarders, we know what we have experienced and still experiencing under the NSW project.

” We have been having issues of uploading our documents of NAFDAC and SON on the NSW platform.

” Last week Monday, I and my colleague went to SON office to go and lodge complaint about our inability to upload our SONCAP certificate on the NSW platform and we were told that they have over 5,000 such documents in their system waiting to be uploaded on the NSW platform.

“We could not upload the document until Thursday , about a week delay.

“We have similar issue with NAFDAC. We went to NAFDAC office at Oshodi where they directed us to their Yaba office and they told us that they have similar delays.

“NAFDAC had to create a special platform in their office where they collate the backlog of documents meant to be uploaded on NSW platform.

“It took us days before we could also upload our NAFDAC documents on NSW platform.

” This has been the daily occurrence since the project commenced as we experience delays, demurrages .

” There are other challenges like that which we are still grappling with under the NSW on daily basis” Alhaji Ayobiojo declared in an agonizing voice.

Dr Segun Musa, a frontline importer, freight forwarder and the National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders( NAGAFF) pointed out that lack of proper training and capacity building by NSW project team has caused the present hardship being experienced by members of the trading public.

Dr Musa, who spoke through his representative, Dr Mark Onuchi, in his lead paper at the seminar, expressed fears that if these issues are not tackled with all seriousness they deserve, the NSW project might be ‘dead on arrival’.

” Neglecting these basics had spelt dooms for many such initiatives.

“As UNCTAD reports warn, about 70 percent of trade facilitation efforts falter when training and capacity are inadequate.

“We cannot afford Nigeria’s NSW to be “dead on arrival”, he warned.

To make the NSW succeds, Musa advised that government should prioritize system and infrastructure upgrade, training of key personnel such as port managers, customs officers and other relevant stakeholders.

“A holistic reform is required to aggressively champion the needed impact if Nigeria must succeed.

“To avert failure, we must master the fundamentals. First, training state actors is crucial.

“Trade facilitation literature shows inadequate training underlies the

majority of failed implementations (UNCTAD, 2022).

“Customs officials, port managers and other key personnel need in-depth, hands-on workshops on the

new system’s functions.

“Second, a holistic policy framework is required. Our NSW must integrate customs, ports, health, environment and industry regulations.

“Evidence suggests that integrated policy reforms can boost trade throughput by roughly 20–30 percent.

“Without alignment (e.g., contradictory agency rules), delays will persist despite new software.

“Third, infrastructure readiness is non-negotiable. In Africa, fragmented road and logistics networks already impose a heavy toll – on the order of ~2% of GDP

annually.

“Nigeria loses a significant portion of potential growth to bottlenecks at

ports, roads, and power supply.

“We must parallel NSW software with physical upgrades: reliable broadband at every border checkpoint, 24/7 electricity at processing centers, and sufficient warehousing at ports.

” Fourth, system automation and interoperability must be end-to-end”

” The time to act is now: let us invest in training, integrate our policies, build robust infrastructure, digitize end-to- end, and enforce integrity.

“By doing so, we will ensure the Single Window is not just launched, but launched for success” Dr Musa observed.

The Customs representative at the event expressed fears that if these delays as being experienced by the freight forwarders under the NSW persist, it may affect the capacity of the Customs to meet its 2026 revenue target.

These delays have trapped some cargoes at the terminals where they are daily accumulating demurrages.

The NSW team led by its Steering committee Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, had last week sought the intervention of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to prevail on the terminal operators to waive demurrages on the cargoes caught in the system glitches triggered by the NSW.

Stakeholders at the MACI event confirmed that they are yet to see the impart of such appeal as the terminal operators are yet to acceed to the request of the NSW team for waivers.

PTML, one of the terminal operators, has unequivocally told the project team that its request for waivers will only be processed to determine the category of cargo that will enjoy the grace as the terminal was not ready to grant blanket waivers.

Headlines

NRC grants Lagos Government permanent approval to operate Red Line rail services

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has granted final approval to the Lagos State Government to operate two of its rail tracks under the Track Sharing Agreement, paving the way for the full operation of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line project.

The LRMT Red Line commenced passenger operations on October 15, 2024, with morning and evening peak-hour services following its inauguration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The permanent approval follows the temporary operating approval granted by the NRC in 2025 under the Track Sharing Agreement with the Lagos State Government.

Presenting the Permanent Operating Licence to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on Tuesday, June 30th, 2026, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the approval confers on the Lagos State Government all the rights and obligations contained in the Track Sharing Agreement.

According to him, the licence also empowers the state to operate rail services in line with international best practices.

Opeifa described the milestone as a testament to the mutual trust, cooperation and shared vision that have continued to define the partnership between the NRC and the Lagos State Government.

“Beyond providing access to the tracks, our collaboration has also included the training and capacity development of the Red Line’s operational personnel, demonstrating the immense value of strong institutional partnerships,” he said.

He commended the Lagos State Government for its confidence in the NRC and its sustained commitment to the partnership.

“I also commend the Government for its remarkable investment in public transportation, particularly in the rail subsector, including the acquisition of adequate rolling stock to meet the growing mobility needs of Lagosians,” he added.

The NRC Managing Director noted that the development of modern rail infrastructure requires foresight, substantial capital investment and sustained political will, qualities he said the Lagos State Government has consistently demonstrated.

Opeifa also urged other state governments across the federation to invest in rail infrastructure and services to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s railway network.

According to him, expanding rail transportation nationwide would ease congestion on highways, reduce logistics costs, improve passenger mobility, stimulate industrial and commercial activities, and accelerate national economic growth.

He stressed that rail transportation remains the backbone of efficient mass transit systems in major cities around the world.

“Continued investment in rail infrastructure is essential to providing safe, reliable, environmentally sustainable and high-capacity mobility for our growing population, while significantly reducing pressure on our road network,” he said.

Opeifa reaffirmed the NRC’s commitment to fostering productive partnerships that will transform Nigeria’s transport landscape.

“Together, we will continue to build an integrated, efficient, safe and sustainable railway system that serves the aspirations of all Nigerians,” he concluded.

Headlines

NPA unveils multi-agency task force to tackle resurgent port access gridlock

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has launched a multi-agency task force to combat the resurgence of traffic gridlock choking the Lagos port access roads, in a fresh push to restore seamless cargo evacuation and sustain recent gains in port efficiency.

The intervention followed a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, on June 23rd, 2026, where security agencies, freight forwarders, truck operators and representatives of the Lagos State Government agreed on coordinated measures to eliminate the bottlenecks disrupting cargo movement.

At the meeting, stakeholders identified illegal extortion points, overlapping responsibilities among security agencies and other operational distortions as major factors responsible for the renewed congestion along the port corridor.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the NPA’s General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemakara, said the Authority’s overriding priority is to guarantee the unhindered movement of cargo to and from the nation’s seaports.

According to him, the task force comprises the NPA, the Police, the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO).

“The responsibility of the task force is to monitor truck movement on the port access roads on a regular basis, identify any disruption capable of causing gridlock and immediately resolve such challenges,” Onyemakara said.

He stressed that members of the task force would not establish checkpoints along the corridor but would maintain strategic presence at designated locations to ensure compliance without obstructing traffic.

To enhance rapid response, Onyemakara disclosed that the task force has created a dedicated WhatsApp platform through which members can instantly report infractions or emerging traffic issues for immediate intervention.

On the long-delayed renewal of the Electronic Truck Call-Up (ETO) system contract, the NPA spokesman said the Authority is reviewing the terms to ensure a more robust contractual framework before awarding a fresh agreement.

He explained that although the previous contract had expired, the ETO platform remains operational under the management of the Truck Transit Parks (TTP) pending completion of the procurement process.

He expressed confidence that the renewal would be concluded soon.

Reaffirming the Authority’s commitment to maintaining free-flowing port access roads, Onyemakara said efficient logistics remain central to the NPA’s drive to improve Nigeria’s port competitiveness and preserve its growing international reputation.

“We are more interested in the free flow of logistics into our ports than anyone else because it is in our own interest,” he said.

“If you look at the international recognition we are receiving, including the World Bank report, we are determined to sustain and even surpass the improvements already recorded in our port system.
“You can be assured that we remain fully committed to achieving the best possible performance from our ports.”

Headlines

Customs Steps Up Nationwide Green Tax Awareness Ahead of July 1 Rollout

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its nationwide sensitisation campaign ahead of the July 1, 2026 implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge and related fiscal adjustments, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and encouraging the importation of cleaner vehicles.

The awareness campaign, held on Friday July 26th, 2026 at the Apapa Area Command, brought together Customs officers, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, importers and other key stakeholders under the theme: “Implementation of the Green Tax Surcharge and Related Fiscal Adjustments.”

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Mohammed Babadende, said the exercise was designed to ensure stakeholders fully understand the policy before its implementation.

“This sensitisation is designed to ensure that every stakeholder clearly understands the policy before implementation. Our objective is to eliminate uncertainty, promote voluntary compliance and guarantee uniform application of the Green Tax Surcharge across all commands,” Babadende stated.

Delivering a technical presentation, the Comptroller in charge of Tariff, System Audit and Coordination, Murtala Muazu, explained that the Green Tax Surcharge is different from conventional fiscal measures and would therefore require a separate assessment process.

He disclosed that the Service has simplified implementation through the HS Code declaration platform to facilitate seamless compliance by importers and clearing agents.

Muazu also revealed that the Federal Government has reduced import levies on vehicles from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, while import duty on used vehicles has been slashed from 15 per cent to five per cent to cushion the impact of the new environmental surcharge.

Area Controllers who participated in the sensitisation urged importers, licensed customs agents and the trading public to embrace the initiative, stressing that the reduction in import levies would lower the cost of doing business, promote legitimate trade and ultimately reduce transportation costs.

Stakeholders welcomed the policy but called for sustained public enlightenment to deepen understanding and ensure seamless compliance ahead of the July 1 commencement date.