National Single Window: Stakeholders Appraise Success in Port Harcourt 5 Months after Launch

The Operators of the National Single Window and other critical stakeholders gathered in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital Thursday, August 27, 2026 to appraise the National Single Window project 5 months after it was launched on March 27, 2026.

The stakeholder engagement was centered on HS Code Harmonization and Sea Manifest Implementation which they say would ensure a more efficient National single Window platform.

In his welcome remarks, the Acting Assistant Comptroller General and Zonal Coordinator, Customs Zone C Headquarters Port Harcourt, ACG Pascal Chibuoke said he was highly honoured to welcome all the participants to Customs Zone C, for the interactive forum.

He hinted that National Single Window was a centralized electronic trade platform designed to streamline import and export processes.

He noted that the essence was about one platform, one submission and one clearance process for all the government agencies and regulators involved in trade facilitation.

According to him, the objective was to reduce costs, reduce time and ensure increased transparency.

The Customs Zone C, Boss insisted that technology alone would not drive the project hence he added that collaboration and commitment were needed.

He lauded the Port Harcourt gathering, noting it would provide a conducive environment for government agencies and regulators who set standards and ensure compliance, importers and exporters who move goods around the world, Customs Agents and Freight Forwarders who navigate the processes, Terminal operators, shipping lines and airlines who connect the nation to the world to voice out their challenges and concerns so as to make the project work.

He reiterated that their inputs would invariably determine how the operators of the Single Window project “will design, test and roll out” 

He paid a glowing tribute to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD, for his policy thrust on consolidation, collaboration and innovation even as he wished all and sundry an open, focused, time conscious and fruitful deliberations.

Speaking to journalists, the National Single Window Director of Operations, Mr. Peter Ekunkoya, said that the aim of the NSW is to streamline, automate and simplify all the import and export processes across all the MDs and private sector providers.

He noted that they have been on the project for a period of two and half years but added that the first roll out of the first phase was on March 27, 2026 making it 5 Months. 

On the essence of the gathering, he said that what they were doing was a continuous engagement of all the stakeholders to get their feedbacks.

"We started it immediately we clocked 3 months to understand how the platform performed, what are the issues they are dealing with, give you some context feedback perspectives and listen to your complaints so that we can go and address them," Ekunkoya said.

He went further to posit that they want the key stakeholders to know they were not far away from them but always there to help.

"We are doing this, to let you know that we aren't far away from you, the key stakeholders and users. We are in tune with your challenges and also to provide or commit you to other things to expect for instance, the streamlining or simplifying HS Code we are doing and the phase 2 roll-out planned for December 2026.”

He appreciated the turnout, noting that the participants were professional in their approach and conduct which, according to him, has doused the initial tension that characterized the National Single Window initiative.

"I have good insight of some of the challenges presented here today but others I am hearing for the first time. But we promise to tackle all of them” He said.

Continuing, he praised the Nigeria Customs Service and other sister agencies for their collaboration, including the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA, NAGAFF , APFFLON and other Freight Forwarders for their understanding insisting the project would be faster, better and more efficient for all the users.

The event featured discussion, Question and Answer section whereby most of the challenges, concerns and feedbacks were attended to.

Participants who spoke to the press were of the view that the single Window initiative despite initial challenges was a welcome development which according to them, apart from saving time and removing all bottlenecks hindering trade facilitation, would also ensure increased revenue generation by removing all revenue linkages association with cargo clearance processes.

Present at the event were, Customs Area Controller, Area 1, Command, Port Harcourt, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, PhD, Customs Area Controller Area 5, command, Ibeto Seaport and Terminal, Comptroller Usman Yahaya, Comptroller Martala Mu'azu Comptroller, Tariff and Comptroller Aondona Christopher Fanyam PhD Comptroller Modernization all from Customs Headquarters, Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone C, Port Harcourt, Aminu Abdullahi Ma'Aji of the Single Window team, Sister government agencies such as NAFDAC, NDLEA, SON, NESREA,NAQs including, ANLCA Onne Seaport chapter Chairman Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku, NAGAFF Onne chapter Chairman Chief Anselem Ike Okechukwu, APFFLON Onne chapter Chairman Forwarder Kolawale Atanda among others.

Sent-In By: Bon Peters, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

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