Nigeria’s National Single Window platform has processed more than N11.27bn in payments and over 114,000 licences and permits within its first five months of operation, underscoring its growing role in the country’s trade facilitation drive.

A Phase One status report seen by The PUNCH shows that 10,818 importers and agents have registered on the platform. Five key Ministries, Departments and Agencies are fully onboarded, and more than 8,000 users have undergone training, signalling a rapid uptake among core trade stakeholders.

The update reveals strong participation from the aviation sector, with 24 of 27 airlines already integrated and 2,139 air cargo manifests transmitted through the system. However, adoption by shipping lines remains weak. Only 23 of 88 shipping lines have joined the platform, and just 43 cargo manifests have been filed, translating to a compliance level of 26 per cent.

The report notes that the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency have completed their technical readiness, with full operational integration into the platform still in progress. Their participation is expected to be critical for driving higher compliance among shipping lines and terminal operators.

Regulatory agencies are emerging as the heaviest users of the system. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has achieved 100 per cent platform usage compliance and recorded the highest transaction volume, processing 78,957 documents and facilitating N9.02bn in payments. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control followed with 34,815 documents and N2.20bn in payments.

The National Agricultural Quarantine Service processed 38 documents and received N30m in payments, while the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency handled 311 documents and recorded N10m in payments.

The report further indicates that the Nigeria Customs Service, along with importers, freight forwarders and clearing agents, has attained full readiness on the platform, with 100 per cent compliance for licences, permits, certificates and other regulatory documents under the relevant processes.

Air cargo manifests have reached 89 per cent compliance, reflecting the strong onboarding of airlines, while shipping-line manifest filings continue to lag. Officials say the next phase of the rollout will focus on deepening integration, cutting paperwork, improving transparency and shortening cargo clearance times, with the goal of creating a seamless digital interface for traders, regulators and other actors across Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.