The federal government has intensified efforts to actualise the implementation of the National Single Window at the nation’s ports by 2026.

Vice President Kashim Shettima said the policy aims to create a unified digital platform that harmonises documentation, minimises human contact, and ensures full transparency in the cargo clearance process — describing it as a potential game changer for port operations.

Shettima stated this on Thursday during the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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He said the goal is to reduce the average cargo clearance time from 21 days to less than seven days by the end of 2026, and to make Nigerian ports rank among the top three most efficient trade gateways in Africa.

“By the end of 2026, we aim to reduce average cargo clearance time in Nigeria to under seven days and to position our ports among the top three most efficient trade gateways on the continent.

“The forthcoming implementation of the National Single Window in the first quarter of next year will be a game changer — a single platform that harmonises documentation, minimises human contact, and brings full transparency to the cargo clearance process,” he said.

The vice president directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and other relevant agencies to develop a roadmap for an effective weights and measures framework.

The framework, he explained, will ensure accuracy in trade measurements through regular inspections, prevent fraud, and protect consumers in line with international best practices.

Shettima expressed concern over the long cargo dwell time at Nigerian ports, which currently averages 18 to 21 days, compared to five to seven days in Ghana and four days in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

He said the administration’s target is to make cargo clearance faster, more efficient, and globally competitive through enhanced collaboration among agencies and improved technological systems.

Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Audu, highlighted the negative impact of inefficient port operations on Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business ranking. She stressed the need for collective action by all stakeholders to make the ports more transparent and efficient.

Audu acknowledged the progress made by the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee, describing it as a platform that fosters inter-agency collaboration and reflects a shared commitment to positioning Nigeria’s ports as globally competitive trade hubs.

The Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, underscored the importance of synergy among stakeholders, noting that true efficiency at the ports can only be achieved through collaboration and partnership.