The Federal Government has announced plans to reduce cargo clearance time at Nigerian ports to under seven days by the end of 2026, leveraging the upcoming implementation of the National Single Window policy.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this during the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He stated that the policy, set to launch in Q1 2026, will harmonise documentation, reduce human contact, and enhance transparency in cargo processing.
Currently, cargo dwell time at Nigerian ports averages between 18 to 21 days, significantly higher than regional peers like Ghana (5–7 days) and Cotonou (4 days). Shettima noted that inefficiencies at the ports have led to increased consumer prices, reduced export competitiveness, and discouraged investment.
The National Single Window policy is expected to transform Nigeria’s ports into one of Africa’s top three trade corridors. It will integrate systems across agencies such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), NAFDAC, SON, and Immigration, fostering inter-agency synergy and eliminating siloed operations.
Shettima also called for a roadmap to strengthen Nigeria’s weights and measures framework, which ensures accuracy in trade transactions and protects consumers from fraud. He emphasized that reforms must be owned by all stakeholders to succeed.
Zahra Audu, Director General of PEBEC, stressed the importance of efficient port operations for improving Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business ranking. Abubakar Dantsoho, MD of NPA, highlighted ongoing efforts to address bottlenecks through joint inspections, technology adoption, and infrastructure upgrades.
The Executive Order on Joint Physical Inspection, currently awaiting presidential assent, is expected to further streamline port operations and reinforce the goals of the Single Window policy.
