By MUHYIDEEN JIMOH

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday tasked key agencies to ensure structured rollout and seamless implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) project.

Gbajabiamila spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting at the State House, Abuja, ahead of the March 27 inauguration.

He described the initiative as another major fiscal reform of the Bola Tinubu administration.

“We are about to launch yet another reform, fiscal reform by this administration, which in its nature will be very transformational.

“As the name suggests, it is a single national window as opposed to multiple single windows.”

He said the project, launched nearly two years ago by President BolaTinubu, would significantly streamline trade processes and eliminate bottlenecks.

“This meeting is to review the progress we have made and get your commitment that we will manage this transition smoothly.

“Mr President is excited and is looking forward to the work put out at the end of the day.”

Earlier, the NSW Project Coordinator, Mr Tola Fakolade, urged agencies to intensify support in the final 23 days before the “go-live”.

“The support that we need from each of the agencies is even more critical now,” he said.

He explained that the first phase would enable importers to submit documents once on a single platform for access by all relevant agencies.

“Documents will be submitted once, and shared with all relevant agencies without duplication,” he said.

Fakolade added that cargo manifests would be submitted electronically and transmitted automatically to relevant agencies without human intervention.

He explained that a centralised risk management system would allow agencies to share cargo risk profiles in real time.

“If one agency identifies a risk, it will be visible to others, especially Customs, which has final clearance authority,” he said.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the project.

“This is a growth-enhancing and growth-enabling project.

“What is required of the Ministry of Finance, we will definitely do.”

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, also stressed the need for strong inter-agency synergy.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Wale Adeniyi, called for collective commitment.

Heads of NAFDAC, FAAN, and other agencies also pledged support for a smooth transition ahead of the launch.

Agencies represented included the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. (NAFDAC)

Others are the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NQS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency. (NESREA)

The NSW Project aims to simplify trade processes, eliminate duplication, and significantly reduce cargo clearance timelines from several weeks to 24 to 48 hours.

This improvement is expected to enhance efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business for importers and exporters operating in Nigeria. (NAN)

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