VICE President Kashim Shettima has announced that the Federal Government is finalizing plans to implement the National Single Window system across Nigeria’s ports by 2026, a move aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness in trade operations.
Speaking during the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee at the Presidential Villa, Shettima described the initiative as a “game changer” designed to harmonize documentation processes, reduce human interference, and enhance transparency in cargo clearance.
He said the government’s target is to cut average cargo clearance time to less than seven days by the end of 2026, positioning Nigerian ports among the top three most efficient trade gateways in Africa.
Highlighting the urgency of reform, Shettima lamented that Nigeria’s cargo dwell times are currently 475 percent above the global average and that clearing costs are 30 percent higher than those of many African peers.
He warned that such inefficiencies undermine investment, increase consumer prices, and reduce export competitiveness.
To address these challenges, the Vice President directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), NAFDAC, SON, and other relevant agencies to create a roadmap for a standardized weights and measures framework that will promote fairness and accuracy in trade transactions.
Shettima also expressed confidence that the pending Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection, currently before President Bola Tinubu, would resolve long-standing operational bottlenecks and foster collaboration among port agencies.
“The era of working in silos is over,” he declared. “No reform can succeed without collective ownership. Our efficiency depends on how well we work together.”
The Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Zahrah Audu, noted that port inefficiencies have continued to affect Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business rankings.
She called for improved collaboration among agencies to achieve globally competitive standards.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the NPA, Abubakar Dantsoho, emphasized that true efficiency hinges on partnership, technology integration, infrastructure upgrades, and workforce development.
He affirmed that ongoing efforts—such as joint inspections and digital adoption—are already yielding results that will strengthen Nigeria’s position in regional and global trade.