FG to Launch Digital Trade Platform Officially on March 27

On March 27, Nigeria will formally introduce the national single window (NSW), a platform for digital trading.

All organizations and participants in import and export procedures are connected to a single, integrated platform through the NSW, an internet portal.

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) serves as its home.

The date was announced on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House in Abuja, which was attended by ministers, heads of agencies, and other important officials. Femi Gbajabiamila is the president’s chief of staff.

The chief of staff called the action a “monumental” step in changing the nation’s trading ecology, according to a statement released by the president’s special adviser, Bayo Onanuga.

He said that the program, which was first introduced by President Bola Tinubu almost two years ago, is a comprehensive fiscal reform that will increase Nigeria’s competitiveness, streamline trade procedures, and improve efficiency.

Gbajabiamila stated, “We are about to launch yet another reform, fiscal reform by this administration, which in its nature will be very transformational.”

In contrast to several single windows, it is a single national window, as the name implies.

“The purpose of this meeting is to assess our progress and obtain your assurance that this transition will be handled smoothly.”

“USER TRAINING IS ONGOING, AND PILOT TESTING WILL START SOON”

The NSW coordinator, Tola Fakolade, called on participating agencies to step up their assistance during the last 23 days leading up to the planned launch.

According to Fakolade, the platform’s initial phase will make it possible to electronically submit cargo manifests, handle import licenses online, and implement a centralized risk management system.

In order to guarantee a seamless rollout, he noted, pilot testing will shortly start, and nationwide user training is currently underway.

The NSW coordinator claims that cargo manifests will be submitted electronically and sent to the appropriate agencies automatically, without the need for human participation.

“We now require much more assistance from each agency. Documents will be shared with all pertinent agencies only once, according to Fakolade.

Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, also spoke and reiterated the ministry’s dedication to the initiative.

The program is a vital component of the administration’s reform goal, according to Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, commerce, and investment.

In order to raise awareness among traders, importers, and exporters, she promised to work with pertinent agencies over the course of the following three weeks.

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, also promised the bank’s cooperation, pointing out the necessity of reducing Nigeria’s trade facilitation deficit with other nations.

In a similar vein, Nigeria Revenue Service chief Zacch Adedeji demanded greater political will and coordination to guarantee successful implementation.

Adedeji suggested that the 23-day implementation phase be led by the minister of industry, commerce, and investment.

The project is a historic milestone, according to Bashir Adeniyi, comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), who also stated that the service will maintain direct communication with stakeholders to guarantee a successful deployment.

The statement claims that the minister of industry, commerce, and investment was tasked with spearheading the implementation stage prior to the launch on March 27.

The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NQS), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) were among the other organizations represented at the meeting.