Trade Reforms: Tinubu sets Q1 2026 target to activate National Single Window project‎

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directs the National Single Window Steering Committee to ensure the platform becomes fully operational by the First Quarter 2026, stating the platform will boost investment and trade revenues, improve transparency, and strengthen Nigeria’s global business credibility

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Single Window (NSW) Steering Committee to ensure the platform becomes fully operational by the First Quarter (Q1) 2026. ‎

ConsumerConnect reports President Tinubu issued the directive when delivering an address at the fifth steering committee meeting Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in the State House, Abuja, FCT.

The Nigerian President, represented by Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, ‎ his Chief of Staff (CoS), said the recent Tax Reform Acts, signed into law in June, underscored the urgency of accelerating reforms and pursuing Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy target.‎

He also highlighted the importance of financial and trade reforms in achieving national economic transformation. ‎

Gbajabiamila noted the Nigerian leader stated: “It’s important that we continue to stay focused on this project. So that at the end of the day, we meet our timelines and achieve the results the President expects. ‎

“As you all are aware, the project is one of the transformative initiatives of Mr. President which we collectively must ensure is effectively and commendably implemented.”

He emphasised the role of a unified electronic platform in simplifying Nigeria’s import and export operations. ‎

According to him, the NSW will boost investment and trade revenues, improve transparency, and strengthen Nigeria’s global business credibility. ‎

Gbajabiamila urged all agencies to refine their targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to meet the Phase 1 deadline. ‎

“I do expect that since the last meeting of the steering committee which was held on the 8th April, 2025, all stakeholders have operated and actively progressed with all the required KPIs and set targets to ensure that we go live with phase 1 in Q1 2026 as was previously scheduled,” Tinubu said. ‎

In his contribution at the meeting, Mr. Wale Edun, Honourable Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, described the progress attained thus far as encouraging.

Edun, however, stressed the need for swift execution of the WSW set targets. ‎

The Minister also urged a shift from strategy to concrete implementation, calling the project complex but transformational. ‎

He equally urged the Committee to improve collaboration, and resolve final hurdles to meet the rollout timeline. ‎

In her remarks,

Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Honourable Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment (ITI), charged the committee to work diligently and meet the Q1 2026 deadline without fail.

Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), as well thanked President Tinubu for consistently supporting the project. ‎

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tuesday, also stated Dr. Adedeji said: “Thank you on behalf of the steering committee. We thank you for the relentless support that you have given to us.

“And to all my colleagues here, we can see that the reward for hard work is more work. When we started last month, it is now law; the single window is now in the law.”‎

The Executive Chairman of FIRS tasked the Steering Committee members on staying focused on the mission ahead.‎

Tola Fakolade, Director of the National Single Window Project, at the meeting, gave a brief overview of the Steering Committee’s progress toward implementing it.

Fakolade stated: “All second quarter 2025 key project milestones have been successfully achieved. And the customisation of the Single window platform has commenced.”

He gave assurances that the committee would meet up with the timelines.

About National Single Window project

The National Single Window project is a Federal Government initiative to streamline trade processes by creating a centralised electronic platform for importers and exporters.

The NSW is a digital trade facilitation platform expected to accelerate economic growth and facilitate cross-border transactions. ‎

Launched in April 2024, the NSW seeks to consolidate all agencies involved in imports and exports onto a unified electronic portal. ‎

Committee members include representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Investments, the Ministry of Finance, FIRS, and the Nigeria Customs Service.

The project is expected to reduce trade costs, cut delays, and enhance transparency and efficiency at Nigerian ports.‎

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