By Amina Ojelabi
The National Single Window (NSW) platform has processed 39,039 applications for licences, permits, certificates and other trade-related documents (LPCOs) within eight weeks of its launch, underscoring growing adoption of the digital trade facilitation system.
Director of the NSW Secretariat, Tola Fakolade, disclosed this on Friday in Lagos while briefing journalists on the achievements recorded since the rollout of the platform’s first phase in March 2026.
According to Fakolade, the volume of applications received demonstrates increasing confidence among stakeholders in the platform as a central hub for submitting and processing trade documentation.
“Approximately 39,039 LPCO applications have been submitted through the platform since the go-live date. This indicates growing reliance on the NSW for the submission and processing of trade-related licences, permits, certificates and other documents,” he said.
A breakdown of the applications shows that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) accounted for 30,937 submissions, while the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recorded 7,942 applications. The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) processed 138 applications, while the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) recorded 22 applications.
Fakolade further revealed that 7,567 users have been onboarded onto the platform since its launch. These include importers, licensed customs agents, clearing and forwarding agents, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders within Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
The registered users comprise 6,935 importers, 359 clearing and forwarding agents, 104 freight forwarders, and 169 licensed customs agents.
On cargo processing, he noted that the Air Cargo Manifest Module, which went live on March 27, 2026, with DHL serving as the pilot operator, has so far received 136 manifests. He added that eight airlines and courier operators are currently submitting manifests through the platform.
To support seamless adoption, the NSW Secretariat commenced nationwide training programmes in February 2026 across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, targeting both public and private sector stakeholders.
Fakolade said 2,990 private-sector participants have been trained, including importers, exporters, freight forwarders and customs agents, while 579 representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have also undergone capacity-building sessions.
The training, he explained, was designed to equip stakeholders with the knowledge required to navigate the platform effectively and carry out responsibilities such as application reviews, approvals, escalations and stakeholder support.
Regulatory agencies that participated in the training include NAQS, SON, NESREA and NAFDAC, among others.
Looking ahead, Fakolade announced that Phase Two of the NSW rollout will commence in June 2026, with plans to complete the integration of airlines and shipping lines for manifest submissions through the platform.
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