The federal government says it is intensifying efforts to implement the National Single Window system at Nigeria’s ports by 2026 to simplify documentation and boost transparency.
Vice President Kashim Shettima described the initiative as a “game changer” that will drastically cut cargo clearance time.
Speaking at the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee in Abuja, Shettima said the goal is to reduce average cargo clearance time to under seven days and make Nigerian ports rank among Africa’s top three most efficient trade gateways.
He lamented that clearing costs in Nigeria are 30 percent higher than in other African countries, adding that “our ports record cargo dwell times 475 percent above the global average benchmark. We cannot afford to continue down this path.”
The Vice President also revealed that a pending Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection would promote cooperation among port agencies, noting, “It marks the dawn of a new era where agencies work together and systems speak a common language.”
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, stressed that efficiency depends on collaboration, saying, “Until there is partnership, you cannot achieve efficiency at the ports.”
He added that ongoing reforms, including technology upgrades and joint inspections, aim to make Nigeria’s ports globally competitive.
