TSF Hails National Single Window As Major Trade Reform, Projects Faster Processing, Higher Revenue
The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) has welcomed the Federal Government’s planned launch of Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) trade platform, describing it as one of the most significant economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement signed by Chairman Ahmad Sajoh and Secretary Danjuma Sada, the forum said the initiative marks a major step toward transforming Nigeria into a globally competitive trading economy.
According to TSF, the National Single Window will replace Nigeria’s fragmented and paper based trade system with a unified digital platform that allows importers, exporters and logistics operators to submit documentation once for use across relevant government agencies.
The group noted that the “submit once, process everywhere” model is expected to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that have long delayed cargo clearance at seaports, airports and land borders.
They cited existing trade data indicating that import compliance currently takes an average of 362 hours about 15 days while export processes take approximately 202 hours, or over eight days.
TSF projected that with the introduction of the platform and integrated risk management systems, these timelines could drop by about 60 per cent within the first two years. This would reduce import processing time to roughly six days and export procedures to between three and four days.
The forum emphasised that faster processing would lower costs for businesses, noting that delays in cargo clearance often translate to higher prices for consumers and reduced competitiveness for Nigerian firms.
On cost implications, TSF stated that businesses currently spend an average of $1,641 per shipment on import compliance and $1,036 on export documentation and border procedures, excluding tariffs and inland transport costs.
They Group estimated that digitalisation and simplified processes under the National Single Window could cut compliance costs by about 15 per cent, saving roughly $246 per import transaction and $155 per export transaction. Across the broader economy, the forum said this could amount to billions of naira in annual savings.
They also highlighted potential gains in government revenue, noting that digitised documentation, improved data integration and reduced human interface would help curb under invoicing and documentation fraud.
Beyond efficiency, TSF said the reform could enhance Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving the competitiveness of Nigerian exports and strengthening supply chains across key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture and solid minerals.
The forum stressed that the success of the platform would depend on effective collaboration among government agencies and full adoption by private sector stakeholders. It urged all trade related institutions and operators to support and fully integrate with the system.
TSF added that if improved transparency and compliance enable Nigeria to recover even one to three per cent of potential customs revenue, the country could generate between ₦70 billion and ₦220 billion in additional annual revenue without increasing tariffs.
