Importers at the nation’s ports are eagerly awaiting waiver clauses from shipping companies and seaport terminal operators following hiccups and cargo clearance glitches that have trailed the National Single Window (NSW) since its launch on 27 March 2026. The development has led to thousands of cargoes being trapped at the ports, accumulating demurrage and storage charges.

Recall that the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), at the weekend urged shipping companies and terminal operators to grant waivers to importers and clearing agents affected by delays linked to the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) at the nation’s seaports.

Speaking exclusively with the Nigerian Tribune on the economic losses to importers and the expected waivers from shipping companies and terminal operators, the National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr Emenike Nwokeoji, explained that the push to seek waivers was due to pressure from agents over demurrage that has accumulated during the period the National Single Window experienced glitches at the ports.

According to the ANLCA National President:

“It is important that the public understands that we do not own the cargoes trapped inside the ports due to the glitches experienced by the National Single Window during its implementation.

“We clear cargoes on behalf of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), among others. So, when we complain, it is not because we own the cargoes; it is because we take the heat on behalf of the cargo owners for the benefit of the common man.

“We are eagerly expecting the nature of waivers that will be granted to cargoes affected by the National Single Window glitches. Of course, we are not expecting shipping companies and terminal operators to grant blanket waivers for all trapped cargoes. Only those affected by the National Single Window glitches should be considered.

“We are monitoring the waiver implementation process. All cargoes affected by the National Single Window glitches should be considered for waivers by shipping companies and terminal operators. That is our standpoint.”

Checks by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that no fewer than 10,000 containers have been trapped at the ports due to persistent system integration challenges affecting the National Single Window.

Some of the challenges include integration issues with regulatory bodies; failed documentation submissions, including manifest uploads from shipping partners; issues with the transmission of Product Certificates for Form M and SONCAP required for PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report) processing; and systemic data errors such as limited space for entering trader names, incorrect data formatting, missing 10-digit product codes, ambiguous error prompts, and difficulties linking Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) to user profiles. (Nigerian Tribune)

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