Nigeria will officially launch the national single window (NSW), a digital trade platform, on March 27.
The NSW is an electronic portal linking all agencies and
players in import and export processes to an integrated platform.
It is domiciled at the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).
Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, announced the date on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House in Abuja attended by ministers, heads of agencies and other key officials.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to
the president, the chief of staff described the move as a “monumental” step in
transforming the country’s trade ecosystem.
He said the initiative, first launched by President Bola
Tinubu nearly two years ago, is a far-reaching fiscal reform that will
streamline trade procedures, improve efficiency, and enhance Nigeria’s
competitiveness.
“We are about to launch yet another reform, fiscal reform by
this administration, which in its nature will be very transformational,”
Gbajabiamila said.
“As the name suggests, it is a single national window as
opposed to multiple single windows.
“This meeting is to review the progress we have made and get
your commitment that we will manage this transition smoothly.”
‘USER TRAINING ONGOING, PILOT TESTING WILL BEGIN SOON’
Tola Fakolade, the NSW coordinator, urged participating
agencies to intensify support in the final 23 days before the scheduled launch.
Fakolade said the first phase of the platform will enable
online processing of import permits, electronic submission of cargo manifests
and the introduction of a centralised risk management system.
He added that nationwide user training is ongoing, while
pilot testing will soon begin to ensure a smooth rollout.
According to the NSW coordinator, cargo manifests will be
submitted electronically and transmitted automatically to relevant agencies
without human intervention.
“The support that we need from each of the agencies is even
more critical now. Documents will be submitted once and shared with all
relevant agencies without duplication,” Fakolade said.
Also speaking, Wale Edun, coordinating minister of the
economy and minister of finance, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the
project.
Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade and investment,
described the initiative as a critical pillar of the administration’s reform
agenda.
She said the project is long overdue and pledged
collaboration with relevant agencies over the next three weeks to sensitise
traders, importers and exporters.
Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), also pledged the bank’s support, noting the need to close Nigeria’s
trade facilitation gap with other countries.
Similarly, Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the Nigeria Revenue
Service, called for stronger coordination and political will to ensure
successful implementation.
Adedeji proposed that the minister of industry, trade and
investment lead the 23-day implementation phase.
On his part, Bashir Adeniyi, comptroller-general of the
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), described the project as a historic milestone,
adding that the service will continue direct engagement with stakeholders to
ensure a successful rollout.
According to the statement, at the end of the meeting, the
minister of industry, trade and investment was mandated to lead the
implementation phase ahead of the March 27 launch.
Other agencies represented at the meeting included the
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the National
Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Federal
Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine
Service (NQS), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations
Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
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