The Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) has issued a detailed technical advisory cautioning that unresolved structural and operational gaps could jeopardise the successful implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) if urgent corrective steps are not taken.
In a statement signed by its President, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, the association emphasised that its intervention is not an opposition to reform but a professional evaluation grounded in the operational realities of Nigeria’s cargo clearance and trade facilitation ecosystem.
APFFLON acknowledged that the National Single Window is globally recognised as a transformative trade facilitation tool capable of enhancing efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness. However, it stressed that successful implementation requires strict adherence to internationally accepted standards, including inclusive stakeholder engagement, systems integration readiness, regulatory harmonisation, and phased deployment.
Key Technical Concerns
1. Stakeholder Architecture Deficiency
APFFLON noted that effective Single Window systems are built on structured stakeholder mapping and functional representation. The marginalisation or exclusion of recognised freight forwarding bodies, it warned, weakens operational alignment and reduces end-user acceptance. Without the confidence and participation of primary operators, system adoption could suffer, leading to workarounds and parallel manual processes.
2. Incomplete Process Harmonisation
A functional NSW demands seamless Harmonisation of Customs procedures, port authority operations, terminal workflows, quarantine services, and other regulatory checkpoints. According to the association, current indications suggest that inter-agency procedural alignment and workflow standardisation have not been fully synchronised.
3. Limited End-User Simulation and Testing
Comprehensive sandbox testing and live cargo simulations involving licensed operators are critical before nationwide rollout. APFFLON warned that insufficient grassroots operator involvement during training may result in operational bottlenecks once the system goes live.
4. Data Governance and Integration Risks
The association highlighted the importance of robust data exchange protocols, cybersecurity safeguards, and compatibility with existing legacy platforms. Deploying the system without rigorous stress-testing of integration layers could disrupt cargo processing timelines and compromise system stability.
5. Change Management Gaps
Digital transformation requires structured change management, including capacity building, phased onboarding, dispute resolution mechanisms, and feedback frameworks. APFFLON expressed concern that a compressed implementation schedule could undermine these essential processes.
March 27 Timeline: A Professional Assessment
While reaffirming support for the reform initiative, APFFLON submitted that the proposed March 27 launch date may be overly ambitious based on current industry preparedness indicators.
The association noted that large-scale trade digitalisation reforms typically undergo phased pilot programmes, controlled deployment stages, and performance audits before full national activation. Accelerating the rollout without addressing technical and stakeholder concerns could lead to:
Cargo clearance delays
Increased transaction costs
System downtime or manual fallbacks
Port congestion
Erosion of industry confidence
Recommended Corrective Measures:
To safeguard the reform’s success, APFFLON recommended:
Immediate technical review of stakeholder engagement structures.
Expanded industry-wide simulation exercises involving recognised freight associations.
Independent system stress-testing and readiness audits.
Phased pilot rollout prior to nationwide activation.
Creation of a multi-stakeholder technical advisory committee.
The association reiterated its full support for the federal government’s Marine and Blue Economy reform agenda, stressing that sustainable reform must be anchored on transparency, technical preparedness, and inclusive governance.
“The National Single Window is a strategic reform capable of transforming Nigeria’s trade competitiveness. However, success must be engineered — not merely announced.
“Inclusiveness, technical integrity, and operational realism are non-negotiable”, the statement concluded.