FG Moves to implement single window policy for port efficiency — Shettima

…Demands Roadmap for Weights and Measures Framework

…Tasks NPA, Customs, SON, NIS, Others connected Inter-Agency Synergy

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

The Federal Government says it is intensifying efforts to instrumentality the National Single Window argumentation astatine Nigerian ports by 2026, a determination expected to importantly heighten efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness.

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this during the 2nd gathering of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee astatine the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the inaugural would harmonise documentation, minimise quality contact, and trim mean cargo clearance clip from 21 days to little than 7 days.

“By the extremity of 2026, we purpose to trim cargo clearance clip to nether 7 days and presumption our ports among Africa’s apical 3 astir businesslike commercialized gateways,” Shettima stated.

He described the forthcoming implementation of the National Single Window successful the archetypal 4th of 2026 arsenic a “game changer” that volition usher successful transparency and seamless cargo processing crossed agencies.

The Vice President directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and different stakeholders to contiguous a roadmap for an effectual weights and measures framework, aimed astatine protecting consumers and ensuring fairness successful commercialized transactions.

Shettima decried the precocious outgo and agelong dwell clip of cargo astatine Nigerian ports, which presently averages betwixt 18 to 21 days, compared to 5 to 7 days successful Ghana and 4 days successful Cotonou, describing the concern arsenic “economically unsustainable.”

“The outgo of clearing goods successful Nigeria is astir 30 percent higher than successful galore determination peers. These inefficiencies outgo america investments, thrust up prices, and weaken export competitiveness,” helium said.

He expressed optimism that the Executive Order connected Joint Physical Inspection, awaiting statesmanlike assent, would alteration larboard operations and foster inter-agency collaboration.

“The epoch of siloed operations indispensable end. Inter-agency rivalry indispensable springiness mode to synergy. Our occurrence volition beryllium connected what we execute together,” Shettima added.

Earlier, Princess Zahrah Audu, Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), highlighted the antagonistic interaction of inefficient larboard operations connected Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, urging stakeholders to enactment collectively for improvement.

NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, besides stressed that collaboration among larboard agencies remains cardinal to achieving operational efficiency. He cited ongoing reforms specified arsenic associated inspection, exertion adoption, and infrastructure upgrades arsenic captious steps toward modernising Nigeria’s larboard system.