The Federal Government’s National Single Window initiative is beginning to ease trade bottlenecks and improve transparency in Nigeria’s business environment, Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, has said.

Speaking with journalists after her panel session participation on the topic, ‘From Policy to Jobs: Creating Business-Enabling Regulatory Environments’, organised by the World Bank Group, on the sidelines of Spring meetings in Washington

D.C., Oduwole said the reform, which officially launched its first phase on March 27 2026, is already gaining traction among businesses and government agencies.

According to her, the platform is designed to simplify trade processes by providing a single portal for applications and payments, reducing delays and inefficiencies that have long hindered cross-border transactions.

“The single window ensures that businesses can access one portal to process documentation and make payments. It is a major trade facilitation reform that has been long overdue,” she said.

Oduwole noted that key government agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, are now integrated into the platform, enabling more seamless coordination.

She added that early adoption has been encouraging, with more businesses leveraging the system to improve the speed and transparency of their operations.

“This is what Nigeria has been waiting for. Within a short period, more businesses are already using the platform, and the efficiency gains are becoming evident,” she said.

The minister explained that the reform is part of a broader strategy by the administration to create an enabling environment for private sector growth, attract investment, and support job creation.

Beyond the Single Window, she highlighted recent tax reforms as another critical pillar of the government’s economic agenda. These include four legislations implemented in 2025, which took effect from January 1, 2026.

She said the reforms raised the tax exemption threshold for micro, small and medium enterprises from N25 million to N100 million, streamlined processes, and introduced a single developmental levy for larger firms.

“These changes are improving the business climate and making Nigeria more attractive to both domestic and international investors,” Oduwole said, noting that several investors she met during the Washington meetings are already studying the new framework.

Oduwole also pointed to ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s commodities exchange to support aggregation, processing, and value-added exports of products such as cocoa, cashew, sesame, ginger, and shea butter.

Responding to concerns over rising poverty levels, she said the government’s role is to implement enabling reforms, while the private sector drives job creation.

“There is always a lag between reforms and outcomes. What we are doing is laying the foundation for sustainable growth. The private sector will leverage these reforms to create jobs and expand opportunities,” she said.

She added that Nigeria’s economy is already showing signs of resilience, with GDP growth exceeding 4 percent, the fastest pace in more than a decade.

Oduwole said the administration remains committed to sustaining reforms that will enhance efficiency, improve transparency, and unlock long-term economic growth. (BusinessDay)

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