January 9, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
ABUJA, Nigeria — In a decisive move aimed at modernising Nigeria’s international trade processes, the Federal Government (FG) has directed all shipping companies and airlines operating within the country to submit their sea and air cargo manifests exclusively through the National Single Window (NSW) platform, government officials confirmed Friday.
Issued through the Ministry of Finance, the directive represents a significant shift from previous protocols in which the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) handled the submission of manifests for cargo processing and port clearance.
According to a memo dated November 17, 2025, with reference number FMF/OHMF/CW/NSW/01, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, instructed all shipping lines and airlines to integrate their manifest submission operations with the centralised NSW digital platform to ensure seamless reporting of both sea and air cargo data.
The National Single Window Project, inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 16, 2024, is designed to strengthen cargo tracking, improve transparency across trade ecosystems, and enhance overall trade facilitation in Nigeria. The government says this system will enable a single-entry point for the submission of all import and export documentation, reducing redundant paperwork and bureaucratic bottlenecks that have historically hampered efficiency at ports and airports.
Mr. Edun highlighted that the NSW framework aligns with international best practices as defined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World Customs Organisation (WCO). Under the platform’s architecture, traders and logistics stakeholders will submit required trade documentation once through a centralised digital portal, and the data will then be shared automatically with relevant government agencies involved in cargo clearance.
“The National Single Window platform will be the single-entry point for the submission of all sea and air manifests,” the directive stated, emphasising that compliance by shipping lines and airlines is mandatory.
The policy aims to strengthen trade efficiency, enhance government revenue collection, and improve operational performance at Nigeria’s various ports of entry and exit. Industry analysts say that by centralising manifest submission, the government expects faster cargo clearance times, improved data accuracy, and stronger coordination among regulatory bodies.
The memo was copied to key agencies including the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) highlighting the broad institutional cooperation envisioned under the NSW regime.
Trade experts note that the directive is part of broader government efforts to digitise and harmonise Nigeria’s trade ecosystem efforts that include rigorous testing of the NSW system ahead of its planned full rollout and integration with other digital trade tools designed to improve logistics, reduce costs, and enhance the country’s competitiveness in global markets.