The Digest:
The federal government will officially launch the digital trade platform for air and sea cargo in March 2026, according to the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). In an X post, FAAN stated that its Directorate of Cargo Development and Services, in collaboration with the National Single Window (NSW) team, engaged stakeholders and announced the planned rollout. All cargo airline operators have been directed by the Minister of Finance to submit air cargo manifests through the NSW platform in preparation for the launch. Training sessions will be conducted ahead of rollout to ensure smooth adoption. President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the national single window project in April 2024, projecting it would generate about $2.7 billion annually by tackling red tape, bureaucratic bottlenecks, delays, and corruption at ports. The platform covers both air and seaports.
Key Points:
- The digital platform promises to slash cargo clearance times and reduce corruption at ports.
- It aims to generate $2.7 billion annually by curbing revenue leakages and enhancing trade efficiency.
- Importers and exporters gain faster clearance, while government plugs revenue loopholes.
- This signals a major step toward modernising Nigeria's trade infrastructure.
- The timing, with March launch, aligns with broader economic reform agenda.
Sources: TheCable, FAAN, National Single Window
