Customs CG, Adeniyi profers solutions for single window actualisation
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has asserted that for the National Single Window to work in Nigeria, all relevant agencies in the country’s trade and revenue system must embrace a singular purpose backed by an unwavering government support
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said this at a stakeholders forum on the National Single Window implementation in Lagos on Wednesday.
Adeniyi noted that they should ensure that the single window was not perceived as sole mandate, but a national strategy supported by all stakeholders, including the private sector, financial institutions, and regulatory agencies.
According to the World Customs Organisation (WCO), a Single Window (SW) is a trade facilitation concept that enables traders and businesses to submit standardised information and documents through a single entry point to fulfil all regulatory requirements related to import, export, and transit.
It simplifies and streamlines interactions with government authorities, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs and delays in cross-border trade.
Since 2014, Nigeria has made efforts twice to create and implement the Single Window without success.
“The centrality of customs in this ecosystem is undeniable, but success requires a symbiotic relationship where each stakeholder plays its path with precision.Also commitment technology has often been cited as the cornerstone of the single window system but technology alone is not the solution. "The deployment of advanced digital platforms must be accompanied by meticulous process reengineering, capacity building, and proper change management. Past efforts in Nigeria have failed due to over-emphasis on technology without adequately addressing the human and operational dimensions,” he said.
The customs boss added that a successful single window system must reflect the peculiarities of Nigeria’s trade environment, incorporating user friendly designs, inter-operability with existing systems and scalability to accommodate future growth.
Adeniyi represented by the Head of Customs Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Kikelomo Adeola, said past attempt to build the National Single Window failed due to challenges.
He said that challenges range from fragmented technological systems and institutional bottlenecks to misaligned stakeholder expectation and inadequate physical and technological infrastructure.
“While these obstacles have slowed our progress, they have also provided invaluable lessons that shaped the roadmap for future sources.A critical reflection on past attempt reveals the necessity of a unified vision driven by strong political will and institutional committee, fragmentation in leadership and inconsistent policy direction, which undermined the effectiveness of earlier initiatives," he noted. He emphasised that continuous stakeholder engagement must be at the heart of the implementation process, adding that previous initiative suffered from limited collaboration and inadequate communication, which bridge the trust gap and soften resistance among stakeholders. "So a successful single window system must prioritise inclusivity with active consultation and collaboration among government agencies, private sectors, and development partners. This development must include consultation and involve co-creation where stakeholders actively contribute to system design and evaluation,” the CG said.
He said that as the country forge ahead, there was need to harmonise the legal landscape, eliminate redundancy while instituting possible policies that promote transparency accountability and efficiency.
“This legal alignment will not only facilitate system implementation, but also booster Nigeria compliance and international trade agreements and standards,” he added.
