Nigeria taps tech to put decades-old port bottleneck to bed

…unveils first phase of National Single Window to fix transaction delays, boost trade

For years, Nigerian businesses have struggled under the weight of a hidden “congestion tax” caused by severe delays at the nation’s ports. To finally tackle this, the Federal Government has launched the first phase of the National Single Window (NSW), a new digital portal designed to modernise international trade, cut costs, and get goods moving faster.

Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, officially launched the platform on Tuesday. The digital rollout goes hand in hand with major physical upgrades planned for the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports. Together, these initiatives fall under President Tinubu’s broader economic strategy to stabilise the economy and make doing business in Nigeria significantly easier.

The sheer scale of the problem is clear. Minister Edun pointed out that as of 2025, cargo sat in Nigerian ports for an average of 18 to 21 days, which is approximately 475 percent higher than the global average of just four days. These massive delays have driven up costs for importers and exporters, ultimately making Nigerian goods less competitive on the global stage.

Read also: National Single Window secretariat moves to secure Customs buy-in ahead of launch

“Critically, 73 percent of cargo dwell time is ‘transaction dwell time’—time spent on documentation, customs processing, and regulatory approvals. This means the primary bottleneck is not physical infrastructure alone; it is process inefficiency,” the Minister said.

“Nigeria’s response is deliberate and integrated. Phase 1 of the NSW directly targets the 73 percent transaction delay component by introducing a single digital platform for trade documentation. This eliminates multiple agency visits and duplicative processes by enabling the electronic submission of Licences, Permits, and Certificates (LPCOs), digital manifest processing, and centralised risk management across agencies.”

Edun explained that the upgrade of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, which handle 70 percent of Nigeria’s trade, is expected to address terminal congestion, inefficient cargo handling, and outdated infrastructure. These physical improvements will speed up cargo discharge and ensure that ships and trucks can get in and out of the ports much faster, he noted.

He added that the reform programme is designed to reduce cargo dwell time from 21 days to under seven days by 2026, aligning Nigeria closer to global benchmarks for faster clearance, lower logistics costs, and improved reliability.

For importers and manufacturers, the initiative aims to provide faster access to critical inputs while reducing inventory and demurrage costs. For exporters, it seeks to promote better access to global markets and increased competitiveness under the AfCFTA by reducing port delays.

Read also: National single window to cut cargo clearance to 48 hours, attract $3bn investment

Addressing concerns regarding the port upgrade partnership, Edun clarified that it is “not a zero-sum arrangement.” He noted that Nigeria stands to gain modern infrastructure, improved productivity, and job creation, while partners participate in financing and commercial opportunities.

“This programme targets the largest constraint to trade efficiency… and most importantly, it reduces the hidden ‘congestion tax’ borne by Nigerian businesses,” Edun said. “Nigeria is not just opening a window; Nigeria is opening for business.”