ANLCA Apapa Chairman Backs Nigeria’s Homegrown Single Window Project
All seems not to be well with the National Single Window Project launched on March 27, 2026 and designed to simply import and export processes.
There have been reported cases delay associated with the digital trade system which have trapped thousands of containers in the ports.
However, the Executive Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Apapa chapter, Chief Emeka Chukwumalu, allayed fears on the digital platform, saying that all new projects normally experience teething challenges which are with time overcome.
Chief Chukwumalu stressed that the introduction of Single Window platform will not be an exception to the usual teething problems, and therefore would soon be overcome.
According to the chairman, when Customs newly introduced Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS 1 & 11) to automate import and export procedures, they faced teething challenges which were later overcome. He pointed out that the same fate befell the recent B'Odogwu when it was newly introduced but that those early challenges associated with it were later overcome.
Chukwumalu commended the Nigeria Customs Service as lead agency in the platform for putting everything in place to bring all the agencies together for smooth operation.
The chairman is fascinated with the project because it's homegrown unlike others before it that are foreign and induced repatriation of our hard earned dollars. He emphasized that the digital platform, apart from providing employment for locals will be cost effective in maintenance and management.
"It's our own. It's homegrown. Many Nigerians will benefit from it directly or indirectly. It will generate employment opportunities for Nigerians," Chukwumalu enthused.
He said that the training and retraining of officials which has extended to all stakeholders concerned would soon ease the problem currently associated with the platform.
Noting that people generally don't like changes but forgetting that change itself is constant and must come, the chairman was optimistic that all g stakeholders in the value chain will be on the same page to see to the success of the Single Window Project.
Chief Chukwumalu however, identified as a major problem the usual disagreement between various agencies on who controls some particular products, especially when the functions are overlapping. He advised that a provision should be made to spell out clearly in the tariff who controls particular products to avoid ambiguity and increase the speed of engagement.
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