FG Reports 20–30% Increase in Trade Licences, Permits Under National Single Window

The Federal Government has reported a 20 to 30 per cent increase in the issuance of export and import trade licences and permits following the implementation of reforms aimed at improving trade facilitation in Nigeria.

Tola Fakolade, Project Coordinator and Director of the National Single Window (NSW) in Nigeria, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja.

Fakolade said the first phase of the National Single Window initiative had helped remove trade bottlenecks by harmonising processes across multiple government agencies involved in import and export activities.

According to him, the platform has also helped close loopholes and improve compliance in the issuance of trade licences and permits.

“The number of licences and permits that have been issued, compared to the same period last year, has gone up by between 20 and 30 per cent,” he said.

Fakolade added that the increase indicated that the platform was delivering on its objectives by improving regulatory coordination and addressing weaknesses in existing procedures.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government was close to integrating the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) into the National Single Window platform.

According to him, bringing the two agencies onto the system would further strengthen coordination among government institutions and improve trade facilitation.

Fakolade also highlighted ongoing efforts to rationalise Harmonised System (HS) codes, which are used to classify goods in international trade. He said the government was working with relevant agencies to identify overlapping codes and reduce or eliminate duplication.

“And I also mentioned the HS code rationalisation, where we are identifying overlaps and working with the agencies to ensure that we identify those overlaps, and then we try to reduce or eliminate them as much as possible,” he said.

The National Single Window is intended to simplify trade-related procedures by providing a more coordinated system for submitting information and obtaining regulatory approvals. The government’s latest figures suggest progress in licence and permit issuance, while further integration and code rationalisation remain part of its efforts to improve the ease of doing business.