Customs Boss Reiterates Support for National Single Window Implementation

.As FIRS Revisits

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Comptroller General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) commitment to National Single Window project, a flagship initiative aimed at simplifying trade procedures, improve transparency, and deliver economic efficiency.

As the project moves steadily towards its operational target of early 2026, the Customs Boss support depicted the Service’s dedication to driving the project success.

Launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in April 2024, the project has gained significant momentum, following series of high-level meetings at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja. key stakeholders, including the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, and the Director of the National Single Window, Tola Fakolade, pledged to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to ensure the project’s success.

At a review meeting on 12 August 2025, Stakeholders discussed aligning integration timelines and ensuring agencies are ready before the first-quarter 2026 deadline.

A follow up session on 16 September 2025, saw FIRS Chairman, Zacc Adedeji expressing satisfaction with the project progress and commending the Customs management for their cooperation. He emphasised that the progress reflects a strong will to deliver on the President’s mandate.

“I can’t thank you all enough for the wonderful progress as I’m seeing everything being completed. This has become the official headquarters of the implementation. Nigeria Customs Service is playing host to the core implementation scheme of Single Window”, the FIRS Chairman remarked.

The Director of the National Single Window, Tola Fakolade, approved a joint venture for broad stakeholder engagement sessions to be held across the four zones of the country in October 2025.

He also posited that bi-weekly technical meetings will continue to address operational challenges and streamline integration processes.

“As part of the implementation of Single Window Project, there has been approval for the release of funds for the support of different MDAs, especially when it comes to IT infrastructure”, he said”We’d like to also gain approval to visit the various commands to figure out if there’s any support they might need so as to make this a reality”.

In his remarks, CGC Adeniyi assured that the Service remains fully committed to the project, emphasising that Customs is not only meeting its technical responsibilities but also driving the broader vision of creating a seamless trade ecosystem.

“We are going to deliver on this mandate. At the rate that we are currently striking agreements on so many of these issues, I want to believe we would be right on target”, he added. “I would like to reiterate our support for the build up towards the implementation of National Single Window”.

The NSW, when fully operational, is expected to cut down cargo clearance times, lower trade costs, curb revenue leakages, and position Nigeria as a more competitive player in global trade. With the renewed momentum and stronger agency partnerships, the project is on track to deliver lasting economic impact.