MACI: Stakeholders Express Worries Over Nigeria’s National Single Window High Risks
Stakeholders from government, maritime agencies, trade bodies, and the private sector gathered in Lagos, for the Media Anti-Corruption Initiatives (MACI)’s second national seminar on the National Single Window (NSW). Themed “National Single Window: Strategies to Avert Failure,” .
The one-day event on April 15, organized by Hynek Media, called for urgent action to prevent the collapse of this key trade reform.
Speaking at the event Dr. Oluwasegun Musa, Chairman/CEO of Widescope International Group, stressed that Nigeria’s upcoming National Single Window (NSW) for trade could unlock billions in exports and investment—but only with rigorous preparation to avoid the pitfalls that doom 70% of similar projects worldwide, per UNCTAD reports.
Musa highlighted success stories like Singapore, which slashed 35 paper forms to one e-form; South Korea; Sweden; the US; and African peers Kenya and Mauritius, which tied NSW to national agendas with strong political will, agency buy-in, and training.
The Chieftain of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) noted that “We cannot afford Nigeria’s NSW to be ‘dead on arrival,’ while , citing World Bank data showing efficient trade systems boost exports by 15% and foreign investment by 10%.
To ensure success, Musa outlined seven critical strategies which include – rigorous training: hands-on workshops for customs officials, port managers, and others, as inadequate capacity causes most failures with reference to UNCTAD, 2022 and holistic policy framework: Integrate customs, ports, health, environment, and industry rules to cut delays and lift trade throughput by 20-30%.
Musa called for a true “one-stop shop” culture, involving private sector players like exporters and freight forwarders to eliminate redundant paperwork. “This isn’t just an IT upgrade—it’s a strategic overhaul,” he concluded. Get it right, and Nigeria could see faster trade growth, more jobs, and prosperity.
He added that infrastructure upgrades was key in fixing roads, power, broadband, and warehousing , which according to him, Africa loses ~2% of GDP yearly to logistics bottlenecks.
Other key points , Musa identified include – end-to-end automation: Link to banks, shipping, and regulators for 20-30% faster transactions (WTO data), turning days into minutes.
He added that Conflict resolution: Fast-track arbitration to slash disruptions by 40% (International Chamber of Commerce).
Compliance deterrents: Audits, fines, and risk engines to boost voluntary adherence by 50% (OECD).etc
In his welcome address, MACI Project Coordinator Lucky Ogueri Dilichukwu Onyeji (Lod-O) emphasized the need for “sunlight as the best disinfectant.”