
By Abraham Joshua
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is set to lead discussions on the National Single Window (NSW) platform and emerging trade technologies at the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) All Maritime Journalists Retreat. The retreat, themed “Maximising Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Import and Export Trade,” aims to promote accurate coverage of Nigeria’s maritime sector development.
The National Single Window platform is a digital initiative designed to streamline documentation, enhance transparency, and improve the efficiency of import and export processes. Expected to go live by March 2026, the platform aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) digital trade requirements. Upon implementation, it is anticipated to reduce cargo clearance timelines from 21 days to under 7 days and lower logistics costs by up to 30%.
This development is expected to boost competitiveness, attract new investments, and enhance supply chain visibility. The testing phase, which has begun with key regulatory and trade bodies, importers, exporters, clearing agents, and freight forwarders, allows participants to test system functionalities and validate workflows ahead of deployment.
The Federal Government has expressed commitment to driving a modern, transparent, and technology-enabled trade environment. With the NSW platform, Nigeria is poised to take a significant step forward in its quest for economic growth and development.



