Nigeria Risks Further Cargo Diversion Without Single Window Law — Maritime Lawyers
The Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA) has warned that Nigeria may continue to lose cargo traffic and customs revenue to neighbouring countries if the Federal Government fails to establish a legal framework for the National Single Window (NSW) project.
Speaking during the association’s fourth maritime industry breakfast meeting in Lagos, NMLA President, Mike Igbokwe, stressed that the initiative requires urgent legislative backing to ensure effective implementation and prevent operational setbacks.
According to him, the absence of a standalone law guiding the project could create enforcement challenges, administrative confusion and loopholes capable of undermining efforts to simplify cargo clearance procedures at Nigerian ports.
Igbokwe noted that the National Single Window project needs a strong statutory foundation either through a dedicated Act of the National Assembly or amendments to existing laws, including the Business Facilitation Act.
“There is currently no clearly defined legal structure outlining how the system should operate, which agency should coordinate it or the framework guiding its implementation,” he said.
The senior advocate expressed concern that aspects of the project were already being implemented without legislative approval.
“We believe it is better to have legislation in place before implementation. But what we are seeing now is that implementation has started without an Act of the National Assembly enacted to drive it,” he added.
He further highlighted the persistent problem of overlapping responsibilities among government agencies operating at the ports, noting that the National Single Window system would help harmonise procedures, reduce delays and eliminate duplication of duties.
According to Igbokwe, importers and exporters currently face cumbersome cargo clearance procedures that require engagement with multiple agencies, resulting in increased operational costs and delays in business activities.
“We have overlapping functions, multiple agencies doing different things. That wastes time, effort and money. The idea is to harmonise everything through one single window so that all agencies are connected and people do not have to move from one agency to another for different stages of cargo clearance,” he stated.
He warned that the continued delay in implementing an effective framework for the project was negatively affecting Nigeria’s economy, as many importers now divert cargoes to neighbouring countries with more efficient port systems.
“The nation is bleeding. Because of the high cost of imported goods arising from the multiplicity of procedures and costs, many goods meant for Nigerian ports are going to neighbouring ports. We are losing revenue,” he said.
While acknowledging that the legislative process in Nigeria can be slowed by political activities and competing national priorities, especially during election periods, Igbokwe maintained that the required law could still be passed quickly with sufficient political will and executive support.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of the National Single Window Project, Tola Fakolade, emphasised the need for regulatory reforms to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the initiative and shield it from political interference.
