Edun Says National Single Window a ‘Legacy Project’ to Revolutionise Trade

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has positioned the National Single Window project as a foundational reform that will transform trade operations and bolster Nigeria’s economic stability. Speaking to journalists after a recent board meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service, Edun stressed that the digital platform is key to unlocking faster, more transparent trade processes and complementing broader fiscal reforms.

Edun described the National Single Window as a “legacy project” spearheaded by the current administration, destined to revolutionise the country’s trade landscape. He explained that by integrating agencies responsible for import and export clearances into a single digital environment, the system will eliminate bottlenecks, reduce costs, and speed up cargo processing—benefits that will ripple through the economy.

Scheduled for rollout in the first quarter of 2026, the platform has already made progress through the involvement of World Customs Organisation-accredited officers, who contributed to drafting its business process requirements and overseeing vendor selection. Additionally, technical support from the Trade Modernisation Project Limited is shaping the operational backbone of the system, ensuring it adheres to international standards.

Edun asserted that the National Single Window will ride alongside ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms, reinforcing the impact of policies already helping to stabilise inflation, strengthen foreign reserves, and improve the exchange rate. These reforms, he noted, have already contributed to stronger trade performance, particularly in critical revenue-generating areas.

In the first half of 2025, Customs revenue reached N3.6 trillion—exceeding projection targets by nearly 12 percent and representing a 25 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This strong performance, Edun said, reflects how effective technological reform can enhance revenue mobilisation and fiscal resilience.

By centralising trade data and processes, the Single Window is expected to provide more accurate revenue tracking, reduce leakages, and help ensure compliance across agencies. As trade becomes more seamless, the system is also anticipated to boost investor confidence by signalling Nigeria’s readiness for efficient cross-border commerce.

Private sector stakeholders have applauded the development as long-overdue. Importers and exporters frequently cite excessive documentation, overlapping regulations, and time-consuming manual clearances as key frictions. The streamlined process promised by the Single Window could ease these pinch points and lower logistical costs across supply chains.

Trade analysts emphasise that the reform holds strategic importance beyond immediate efficiency gains. If implemented effectively, it could elevate Nigeria’s competitiveness within Africa—particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area—and reinforce its appeal as a regional trade hub.

However, experts caution that success hinges on sustained political will, robust inter-agency coordination, and adequate investment in digital infrastructure. Entrenched institutional inertia and existing interests profiting from inefficiencies could pose obstacles. Ensuring data security, system reliability, and responsive connectivity across ports and land borders also remains critical.

Responding to these concerns, Edun assured that the government is committed to a phased rollout, incorporating feedback loops, training, and stakeholder engagement to test and refine the platform before full deployment. Supporting measures are being planned to equip both customs officers and traders with the tools and knowledge necessary for seamless adoption.

The National Single Window will complement other government-led reforms such as port digitisation, electronic invoicing by tax authorities, and expanded digital payment mechanisms. Together, these initiatives aim to modernise trade infrastructure and embed transparency across the economy.

Economists projecting potential downstream benefits anticipate that quicker cargo clearance, reduced logistics cost, and increased predictability could stimulate growth in manufacturing, agriculture, and export-oriented industries. For consumers, these efficiencies could contribute to price reductions and better availability of essential commodities.

As political and business leadership awaits the system’s full launch, the success of the National Single Window promises to be a defining indicator of how technology-driven reforms can reshape Nigeria’s economic trajectory.

For now, Edun described the initiative as a bold statement of intent—one that, if executed with precision, could reboot the country’s trade architecture and reinforce long-term fiscal stability.