The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intensified collaboration to accelerate the implementation of the Nigerian National Single Window (NSW) project to streamline trade procedures and improve revenue generation.
At a high-level meeting held on Tuesday, both agencies reviewed progress on the integration process between the NCS and the NSW Secretariat, and agreed on concrete steps to achieve the project’s operational take-off target set for the first quarter of 2026.
Launched in April 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, the NSW is designed to serve as a unified digital platform connecting all relevant trade-related agencies with the objective of reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks, enhancing transparency, and boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
Dr Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of FIRS, stressed the importance of inter-agency synergy to meet the presidential directive.
“We want to synergise with the NCS. It is high time we got involved, because Mr President has given us till the first quarter of 2026. I am here to support the Nigerian Customs Service to achieve the launching of the National Single Window and to seek further collaboration ahead of the first phase in March 2026,” Adedeji said.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, emphasised that aligning all stakeholders was critical to ensuring a smooth rollout.
“This project is important to Mr President. Since the beginning of this administration, it has been listed among the key policies to facilitate trade and make the Nigerian economy more competitive. The goal is to develop a trade ecosystem, integrating technology into our processes,” he said.
According to Tola Fakolade, Director of the NSW Secretariat, the project has now moved into the critical development and integration phase following a year of assessments and requirements analysis. He noted that the system will function as the central hub linking all participating agencies.
Fakolade added that meeting the Q1 2026 deadline is essential for delivering the project’s expected benefits, which include faster cargo clearance, lower operational costs, and reduced leakages in government revenue.
The NSW is also projected to lower consumer prices through reduced supply chain delays, attract investment by enhancing Nigeria’s trade profile, and create jobs across multiple sectors.
The renewed engagement between FIRS and the NCS reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising trade operations, improving compliance, and boosting revenue in line with Nigeria’s economic growth agenda.