Move aims to improve trade transparency, speed up port clearance and boost revenue
The Federal Government has ordered all shipping companies and airlines operating in Nigeria to submit their cargo manifests via the National Single Window (NSW) platform, a digital initiative designed to streamline trade, enhance transparency, and strengthen cargo tracking.
The directive, issued by the Ministry of Finance, represents a major shift from the previous system, where the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) alone managed the submission of shipping manifests for cargo processing and port clearance.
Integration with National Single Window mandatory
In a memo dated November 17, 2025 (Ref: FMF/OHMF/CW/NSW/01), shipping lines and airlines were instructed to integrate their operations with the NSW platform to enable seamless submission of both sea and air manifests. The document was signed by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
The memo highlighted that the National Single Window Project, inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 16, 2024, aims to automate import and export processes at Nigeria’s ports of entry and exit. By centralizing the activities of multiple government agencies, the project is expected to speed up cargo clearance, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and improve overall service delivery.
How the system works
The NSW platform follows global standards as defined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO), which prescribe a single-entry point and single submission of trade documentation. Under the system, all import and export documentation must now be submitted once through the digital platform, simplifying procedures for traders, shipping lines, and airlines.
“As a result, the NSW platform will serve as the single-entry point for all sea and air manifest submissions,” the memo stated, emphasizing that compliance is mandatory.
Agencies involved
The directive was circulated to key government agencies responsible for trade and port operations, including:
- The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
- The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
- The Managing Directors of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
- The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
- The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
Officials say the integration with NSW is expected to enhance operational efficiency, increase government revenue, and foster a more transparent trade environment across Nigeria’s ports and airports.
