The Federal Government has set a target of reducing cargo clearance time in Nigeria to 24 hours, from the current average of two to three weeks, as maritime stakeholders called for greater digitalisation, improved regulatory coordination and environmentally sustainable port operations.
The target was disclosed by the National Coordinator of the National Single Window Secretariat, Mr Tola Fakolade, at the Primetime Reporters’ 5th Annual Lecture and Awards held at Rockview Hotels, GRA, Apapa, Lagos, on Thursday.
Fakolade, who was represented by a Deputy Director at the Secretariat, Mr Jude Oboh, said the initiative was designed to simplify trade procedures, eliminate unnecessary delays, reduce cargo dwell time and lower the cost of doing business.
He explained that the Federal Government intended to achieve a 24 hour clearance window for both imports and exports through a centralised digital platform that would enable traders to submit relevant documentation once for use by participating government agencies.
According to him, the system would improve transparency, strengthen risk management and enable regulatory authorities to identify compliant traders for faster processing while subjecting high risk transactions to closer scrutiny.
Fakolade expressed concern that approximately 95 per cent of cargo was subjected to intrusive physical examination, describing the practice as excessive. He said the Secretariat hoped to reduce the proportion to below 10 per cent in line with international best practices.
He attributed the high inspection rate partly to the absence of an integrated risk management system and overlapping responsibilities among regulatory agencies operating at the ports.
The National Single Window, he said, would facilitate information sharing among relevant institutions, allowing them to assess cargo risks collectively and minimise unnecessary examinations.
Fakolade added that the Federal Government had directed that Nigeria’s cargo clearance costs should, at worst, be comparable to those of other West African countries, following concerns about the diversion of some Nigerian bound cargo to competing ports in the region.
Providing an update on implementation, he disclosed that the platform had issued more than 156,000 licences and permits within six months, while over 12,000 importers and clearing agents had registered on the system.
He said five ministries, departments and agencies were already using the platform, with the first phase focused on non oil imports through the integration of pre shipment documentation and permits issued by relevant regulatory authorities.
The Secretariat, he added, was preparing to extend the initiative to exports by the end of the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to the implementation schedule. The subsequent phase would cover the oil and gas sector and trade visualisation solutions.
In his keynote address, a former lecturer at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, and Managing Director of Kamany Marine Services Limited, Dr Charles Okorefe, called for accelerated adoption of smart port technologies and environmentally sustainable logistics systems.
Speaking on the theme, “Smarter Gateways, Greener Logistics: Leveraging Port Community System and National Single Window for Seamless Trade Flows,” Okorefe said port efficiency must extend beyond vessel reception and cargo handling to encompass the seamless movement of goods throughout the supply chain.
He identified artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data, blockchain and automation as technologies capable of improving vessel scheduling, cargo handling, equipment monitoring and operational efficiency while reducing energy consumption and delays.
Okorefe noted that Nigerian ports still lagged behind leading international facilities, including Rotterdam and Singapore, in automation and technological integration. He also advocated cleaner energy alternatives, including the exploration of agricultural resources for biofuel production.
The maritime expert said the Port Community System could complement the National Single Window by improving information exchange and operational coordination among shipping companies, terminal operators, freight forwarders and government agencies. However, he warned that institutional rivalries, overlapping mandates and poor collaboration could undermine the benefits of digitalisation.
He urged government agencies to harmonise their responsibilities and eliminate duplicated procedures, stressing that technology alone would not resolve inefficiencies without corresponding institutional reforms.
Chairman of the occasion and former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr Temisan Omatseye, called for stronger environmental protection, clearer regulatory responsibilities and sustained investment in modern port infrastructure.
Omatseye expressed concern over pollution incidents and prolonged oil related fires, citing developments around OML 18 and an oil spill at Odidi. He warned that environmental damage disproportionately affected host communities through the destruction of aquatic ecosystems, loss of fishing opportunities and disruption of livelihoods.
He urged regulatory agencies to understand their statutory responsibilities, coordinate their activities and ensure that their decisions were consistent with Nigeria’s applicable laws and international maritime obligations.
The former NIMASA chief also challenged journalists to scrutinise regulatory decisions, investigate government actions and hold public institutions accountable while maintaining constructive engagement with industry stakeholders.
On port modernisation, Omatseye advocated facilities capable of accommodating larger vessels, improving cargo operations and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He called for investment in shore power infrastructure that would allow vessels to use cleaner electricity while berthed instead of relying continuously on onboard generators.
He also welcomed the Federal Government’s reported intervention in repairing the breakwater at Escravos, expressing hope that the project would improve access to the Warri port channel and surrounding maritime areas.
However, he stressed that port development must be supported by adequate cargo evacuation infrastructure. Citing the challenges associated with cargo movement from Lekki Deep Sea Port, he called for road, rail and other transport connections to be incorporated into port development plans from the outset.
Omatseye warned against repeating existing congestion and cargo evacuation difficulties in proposed deep seaports elsewhere in the country, insisting that modernisation must integrate efficient vessel turnaround, cleaner energy, reliable transport links and environmental sustainability.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency, NPERA, Mr Pius Akutah, represented by the Director of Regulatory Services, Ms Adaora Nwonu, said the country’s growing port traffic must translate into measurable improvements in productivity, service delivery and trade competitiveness.
According to the address delivered on his behalf, cargo throughput increased from 71.21 million metric tonnes in 2023 to 103.34 million metric tonnes in 2024, representing a 45.1 per cent rise. Ship calls increased from 3,791 to 4,005, while container throughput grew by 9.7 per cent to 1.74 million twenty foot equivalent units.
Despite the growth, Akutah noted that average vessel turnaround time improved only marginally, from 4.7 days to 4.6 days, underscoring the need to measure port performance beyond cargo volumes.
He said relevant indicators should include vessel waiting time, cargo dwell time, clearance duration, truck turnaround, container evacuation, service reliability, complaint resolution and total port costs.
On the National Single Window, Akutah said the platform, launched in March 2026, offered an opportunity to reduce documentation requirements, accelerate approvals, improve transparency and lower transaction costs. He cautioned, however, that digitalising inefficient processes without redesigning them would merely transfer existing problems to electronic platforms.
He called for effective integration between the National Single Window, Port Community Systems and relevant government agencies, alongside stronger cargo evacuation networks, energy efficient port equipment, cleaner transport options and transparent economic regulation.
Akutah said NPERA would continue to promote transparent tariffs, fair competition, service standards and accountability among regulated service providers, stressing that efficiency gains should translate into lower supply chain costs and greater predictability for businesses and investors.
The event brought together maritime industry leaders, regulators, operators and media representatives to discuss digital transformation, trade facilitation and sustainable port development. Participants included the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, represented by the Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex, Mr Adebowale Lawal; Lagos State Special Adviser on Blue Economy and General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel; and the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Mr Kingsley Onyekachi Igwe.
The conference underscored the need for coordinated reforms to reduce cargo clearance time, strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional trade and ensure that port expansion delivers measurable economic and environmental benefits.