FG NSW Project: ANLCA, NAGAFF Endorse Initiative as Game Changer for Maritime Sector

By Raheem Ibrahim

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders have endorsed the takeoff of the National Single Window project, describing it as a long awaited relief for operators in the maritime industry.

The associations pledged their support during separate town hall meetings held in Apapa, Lagos, with ANLCA members engaged on Tuesday and NAGAFF members on Wednesday.

The National President of ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji, described the project as a much needed reform for licensed agents. He expressed excitement over the strong government backing and the political will of the present administration to eliminate duplication of documentation and repeated submissions.

Nwokeoji said the initiative would address overlapping functions among government agencies and ensure that any objection raised on the platform would be visible to all stakeholders. According to him, this would enhance transparency, accelerate cargo clearance, and enable agents to submit documents remotely while tracking cargo movement in real time.

“This project is going to help in making our jobs easier. That is why we are giving it our full support within our capacity. I strongly believe, on behalf of every licensed customs agent, that it will succeed,” he said.

Similarly, at the NAGAFF engagement on Wednesday, the National President, Tochukwu Ezisi, described the initiative as a positive and timely development that would significantly improve efficiency, transparency and ease of doing business in the sector.

He stated that the association fully supports the initiative and welcomes it wholeheartedly, affirming that with proper training and sustained stakeholder engagement, the reform would deliver its intended benefits to the industry and the national economy.

Also speaking, the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, described the Single Window as a major breakthrough for the maritime sector. He noted that the interactive nature of the platform would make transactions more seamless across the industry and enhance due process and operational standards.

“The Single Window platform is the best thing that is going to happen in the maritime sector because it is interactive. NAGAFF members will fully support this project, and we are always eager to embrace due process,” he said.

The leadership of both associations urged members to fully embrace the project, drawing lessons from past transitions where delayed adoption created operational challenges. They emphasised the importance of participating in the training programmes organised by the NSW team and advised members to register online, attend sessions at designated centres and cascade the knowledge to their staff.

Earlier, the Director of the NSW Project, Tola Fakolade, outlined a phased transition strategy designed to manage risks and address initial challenges. He explained that the rollout would take place in three stages over a maximum period of 12 months.

Fakolade disclosed that Phase One will commence on March 27, 2026. It will cover licence, certificate and permit applications for imports; manifest submissions for air and sea cargo; centralised risk management for regulatory agencies such as SON, NAFDAC and NAQS; and related payments.

Phase Two, scheduled for the second and third quarters of 2026, will cover licence, certificate and permit applications for exports; export process applications including NXP; initiation of Form M processes on the Single Window platform; and data analysis, reports and dashboard functions.

Phase Three, expected in the first quarter of 2027, will address declaration submissions; duty assessment and payment; advanced risk analytics; trade visualisation systems; and operational reports and dashboards.

He assured stakeholders that processes not captured in the first phase would continue on the existing platforms of the relevant government agencies.

Fakolade added that the project would be supported by an intensive two day hands on training programme for licensed customs agents and freight forwarders, to be conducted over four weeks nationwide. He advised participants to register at centres closest to them and stressed that stakeholder consultations would remain ongoing to accommodate further inputs as implementation progresses.

He further revealed plans to establish support centres with internet access at major ports, beginning with Apapa Port. A help desk and walk in support centres will also be available after launch to ensure a seamless transition.

While commending the leadership of ANLCA and NAGAFF for their early endorsement, Fakolade called for broader sensitisation among members, urging them to act as ambassadors of what he described as the beginning of a new trade era for Nigeria.