Tinubu sets Q1 2026 deadline for trade single window rollout
President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Single Window (NSW) Steering Committee to ensure the electronic trade facilitation platform becomes operational by the first quarter of 2026.
The NSW project, launched in April 2024, aims to streamline Nigeria’s import and export operations by consolidating all relevant agencies onto a centralised digital portal.
The initiative, according to the federal government, will cut port-related business costs by at least 25 percent and enhance Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential adviser on information and strategy, said Tinubu gave the directive during the committee’s fifth meeting at the State House in Abuja.
The president was represented by Femi Gbajabiamila, his chief of staff.
Gbajabiamila told stakeholders that the recently signed Tax Reform Acts have made the success of the NSW project more urgent than ever.
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“It’s important that we continue to stay focused on this project. So that at the end of the day, we meet our timelines and achieve the results the president expects,” he said.
“As you all are aware, the project is one of the transformative initiatives of Mr. President, which we collectively must ensure is effectively and commendably implemented.”
He noted that the NSW platform is central to simplifying Nigeria’s trade processes and improving investment inflows.
Gbajabiamila also urged agencies involved to align their key performance indicators (KPIs) with the project’s delivery schedule.
“I do expect that since the last meeting of the steering committee, which was held on the 8th (of) April, 2025, all stakeholders have operated and actively progressed with all the required KPIs and set targets to ensure that we go live with phase one in Q1 2026 as was previously scheduled.”
Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, described the project as encouraging but stressed the need to shift from planning to action.
He said the remaining hurdles must be cleared to meet the rollout date.
Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade, and investment, echoed the urgency, calling on the committee to meet the deadline without excuses.
Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), thanked Tinubu for his consistent support for the project.
Adedeji called on committee members to remain focused on the mission, noting that the fact that the single window is now enshrined in law marks progress.
Tola Fakolade, director of the NSW project, confirmed that all second-quarter milestones for 2025 have been completed and that the platform’s customisation has begun.
“All second quarter 2025 key project milestones have been successfully achieved. And the customisation of the single window platform has commenced,” he said.
He assured that the committee is on track to meet the Q1 2026 deadline.
The NSW committee includes representatives from the ministries of trade and finance, FIRS, and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
