Nigeria's Federal Government will launch the second phase of its National Single Window project on December 14, 2026, aiming to streamline export processing and eliminate bureaucratic delays in the country's trade sector. The digital platform will provide exporters with a single point to submit documents and obtain approvals from regulatory agencies, according to Tola Fakolade, Director of the National Single Window Project. Fakolade made the announcement during a sensitisation programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday.
The first phase of the project, which focused on licences and permits, has already delivered results by enforcing regulatory compliance and preventing revenue leakages, Fakolade said. Feedback from participating agencies showed that the platform's compliance mechanisms had compelled users to follow required procedures, he explained. The second phase implementation will occur in two batches, with the first batch commencing on December 14 to cover export permit issuance by regulatory and inspection agencies. A second batch covering Central Bank of Nigeria processes is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2027.
The platform addresses a longstanding inefficiency in Nigeria's export system. Exporters currently must visit multiple government agencies and submit identical documents through separate systems. The digital portal will eliminate these redundancies and improve transparency in international trade. Ndubueze Okeke, Deputy Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, described the export component as a strategic initiative capable of repositioning the economy and strengthening Nigeria's global competitiveness.
Okeke emphasised the urgency of economic diversification beyond crude oil dependence. He highlighted that Nigeria must develop multiple export sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, education and healthcare to achieve sustainable growth. He cited the United Arab Emirates as an example of successful economic diversification through developing tourism, trade, finance, education and healthcare sectors. Okeke also identified emerging opportunities in halal products and noted that Nigerians currently travel abroad for educational and medical services, representing potential export revenue streams if developed domestically.
Okeke noted that establishing a unified trade facilitation platform had been discussed for nearly two decades before actual implementation began. The National Single Window initiative represents a significant milestone in Nigeria's efforts to modernise its trade infrastructure and improve efficiency in export operations.
For exporters and businesses engaged in international trade, the platform means reduced administrative burden and faster processing times when obtaining necessary permits and approvals to ship goods abroad.