FG targets December 14 for digital export permit processing

Director of the National Single Window Project, Tola Fakolade

The Federal Government has vowed to block revenue leakages, strengthen regulatory compliance and eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks in Nigeria’s export sector through the second phase of the National Single Window project.

The project is scheduled to go live on 14 December, 2026.

Director of the National Single Window Project, Tola Fakolade, stated this during the Phase Two National Single Window Sensitisation Programme held Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday.

According to Mr. Fakolade, the platform would simplify export documentation and permit processing by providing a single digital point through which exporters could submit documents and obtain approvals from relevant regulatory agencies.

He explained that the first phase of the project, which focused on the submission of licences and permits, had recorded significant successes, particularly in enforcing compliance and preventing revenue leakages.

Fakolade noted that feedback from participating agencies shows that the platform’s compliance mechanisms had helped ensure that users adhered to regulatory requirements.

He said feedback from agencies involved in the first phase showed that enforcing compliance through the platform had compelled users to adhere to the required procedures.

“And when there’s compliance, then there’s a blockage of revenue leakage.”

He expressed confidence that the achievements recorded in the first phase would provide a solid foundation for the export component, which he said was designed to improve efficiency and transparency in international trade.

Fakolade disclosed that the second phase would be implemented in two batches, with the first scheduled to commence on 14 December, adding that the first batch would cover the issuance of export permits by regulatory and other agencies responsible for inspecting products and issuing permits before export.

He added that the second batch would cover the Central Bank of Nigeria’s processes and was expected to go live in the first quarter of 2027.

On the benefits of the platform, Fakolade said exporters would no longer need to visit different government agencies or submit the same documents through multiple independent systems.

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In his keynote address, Deputy Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Ndubueze Okeke, called on the Federal Government to accelerate economic diversification by strengthening non-oil exports, warning that the country could not achieve sustainable economic growth by relying overwhelmingly on crude oil revenue.

Nigeria, Okeke said, must begin to build an economy supported by multiple sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, education, healthcare, financial services and other areas with significant export potential.

He described the export component of the National Single Window as a strategic initiative capable of repositioning the economy, improving trade efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.

“I say this with every sense of responsibility and without any apology: Nigeria cannot continue to depend overwhelmingly on crude oil revenue and expect to achieve sustainable economic growth,” he said.

While challenging Nigerians to look beyond oil, Okeke asked: “How many of us would want Nigeria’s oil to be exhausted in the next five years?”

He said the question was intended to encourage stakeholders to consider the country’s economic future beyond crude oil, stressing that Nigeria’s human resources, agricultural potential, industries and entrepreneurial capacity could sustain long-term prosperity.

Using the United Arab Emirates as an example, Okeke said the country had successfully diversified its economy by developing sectors such as tourism, trade, finance, education and healthcare.

The NEPC official noted that Nigerians were already travelling abroad to access educational and medical services, arguing that such activities represented opportunities Nigeria could develop and turn into export revenue.

He also urged the country to explore emerging niche markets, including halal products, as part of efforts to expand its non-oil export base.

On the National Single Window initiative, Okeke said its implementation was a significant milestone after nearly two decades of discussions about establishing a unified trade facilitation platform in Nigeria.

He said: “For nearly two decades, we have talked about establishing a National Single Window in Nigeria. I am particularly delighted that I am alive to witness its actual implementation.”