Single Window Project Gains Traction as Customs, FIRS, Others Pledge 2026 Take-Off

Single Window Project Gains Traction as Customs, FIRS, Others Pledge 2026 Take-Off

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The National Single Window (NSW) project, one of President Bola Tinubu’s flagship trade reforms, is gathering momentum as key agencies recommit to meeting its 2026 operational target.

At a high-level follow-up session held on September 16 at the Nigeria Customs Headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, expressed confidence in the progress so far, describing Customs as the engine room of the project.

“I can’t thank you all enough for the wonderful progress, as I’m seeing everything being completed. This has become the official headquarters of the implementation. Nigeria Customs Service is playing host to the core implementation scheme of the Single Window,” Adedeji said.

The NSW, launched in April 2024 by President Tinubu, is designed to simplify trade procedures, improve transparency, and cut cargo clearance times. It is also expected to reduce costs, curb revenue leakages, and boost Nigeria’s global trade competitiveness.

During the session, the Director of the National Single Window, Tola Fakolade, announced that broad stakeholder engagement sessions would hold across Nigeria’s four zones in October 2025, alongside bi-weekly technical meetings to resolve operational challenges.

“As part of the implementation, there has been approval for the release of funds to support different MDAs, especially in IT infrastructure.

 “We also seek approval to visit the various commands to assess additional support they may require to make this a reality,” Fakolade explained.

Customs Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Service’s readiness to deliver on the President’s mandate, stressing that inter-agency alignment was already yielding results.

“We are going to deliver on this mandate. At the rate we are striking agreements on so many of these issues, I believe we will be right on target. I would like to reiterate our support for the build-up towards the implementation of the National Single Window,” Adeniyi declared.

With stronger inter-agency collaboration and renewed drive, the project is firmly on course to meet its first-quarter 2026 deadline, promising lasting economic benefits for Nigeria.