A major controversy has erupted following the recent launch of Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) initiative, an ambitious project aimed at streamlining trade processes and reducing inefficiencies at the country’s ports. Launched under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the NSW is designed to tackle the chronic delays and corruption that plague Nigeria’s ports, costing the country an estimated $4 billion annually. However, the federal government’s decision to exclude the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from leading roles in the project has sparked widespread industry unrest.

Key Agencies Excluded

The decision to appoint the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as the lead agencies for the NSW, bypassing the NSC and NCS, has raised concerns across the maritime and trade sectors. Experts and industry stakeholders fear that the exclusion of these critical agencies, both of which have extensive experience in trade facilitation, could undermine the effectiveness of the NSW.

Industry Backlash

Prominent voices in the industry have been vocal in their criticism of the federal government’s move. Dr. Kayode Farinto, a former Acting National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), described the initiative as “dead on arrival,” emphasizing that successful Single Window systems globally are typically led by Customs agencies due to their specialized knowledge. Farinto warned that placing FIRS, an agency focused on tax collection, in charge of trade facilitation was a grave mistake that could doom the project.

Dr. Eugene Nweke, a maritime expert, echoed these concerns, arguing that the NSW should prioritize simplifying and automating trade processes rather than becoming a revenue-generating scheme. He criticized the government’s decision as contradictory to global best practices, noting that Nigeria risks falling behind its regional peers, such as Ghana, in trade facilitation.

Divergent Opinions

Despite the widespread criticism, some stakeholders, like Dr. Segun Musa, Deputy President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), offered a different perspective. Musa suggested that a neutral agency like FIRS might prevent the system from being compromised by entrenched interests, implying that the government’s decision could have merit. However, this view remains in the minority, with most stakeholders advocating for the reinstatement of the NSC and NCS in leading roles.

Looking Ahead

As tensions mount, clearing agents are preparing to escalate the issue by submitting a formal protest letter to the Minister of Finance and the Presidency, demanding the reinstatement of the NSC and NCS as lead agencies in the NSW’s implementation. The federal government now faces a critical decision: either reconsider its approach to the NSW or risk the initiative becoming a symbol of yet another missed opportunity in Nigeria’s quest for modernization and efficiency in trade.

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the National Single Window can fulfill its promise of economic transformation or whether it will falter due to the exclusion of key trade agencies.