The federal government has officially launched Phase 1 of the National Single Window (NSW) initiative, aiming to cut cargo dwell time at Nigeria’s ports from the current 18–21 days to less than seven days before the end of 2025. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize the nation’s trade infrastructure and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian goods.
At the launch in Lagos, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun described the NSW as “a decisive step to modernise Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.” He emphasized that the initiative complements recent agreements to upgrade the Apapa (built 1913) and Tin Can (built 1977) ports, marking a coordinated effort to reduce trade costs and stimulate economic growth.
“Cargo dwell time in Nigerian ports averaged 18–21 days as of 2025,” Edun explained, noting that this figure is roughly 475% higher than the global average of four days. The prolonged delays, he said, have contributed to high business costs, slower import and export processes, and diminished competitiveness for Nigerian products on international markets.
The minister highlighted that approximately 73% of cargo dwell time in Nigeria is tied to documentation, customs processing, and regulatory approvals. “This shows that the primary bottleneck is not just physical infrastructure—it is process inefficiency,” he said.
Phase 1 of the NSW directly targets these inefficiencies by introducing a single digital platform for trade documentation. The platform is designed to eliminate multiple agency visits, remove duplicative processes, and enable electronic submission of licenses, permits, and certificates (LPCOs). Additional features include digital manifest processing, centralized risk management across agencies, and transparent electronic payments.
Edun explained that the expected impact would include faster document processing, reduced human interface, and predictable, transparent timelines for cargo clearance. He further noted that physical port upgrades would complement these digital reforms. Modernization plans for Apapa and Tin Can ports—which together handle 70% of Nigeria’s trade—will address congestion at terminals, outdated infrastructure, and inefficient cargo handling, ultimately improving vessel and truck turnaround times.
By combining process reform with infrastructure upgrades, the government aims to make Nigerian ports more efficient, reduce trade costs, and unlock broader economic growth.