Nigeria's trade 'single window' expands to Port Harcourt after processing 169,000 licences and permits
Phase two aims to cut duplicated checks by several agencies and take the platform beyond Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.
Port Harcourt — Phase two of Nigeria's National Single Window, a digital platform for import and export paperwork, has been launched in the Port Harcourt zone, BusinessDay reported.
More than 169,000 licences and permits have been processed so far, and over 12,400 importers and agents have registered, project director Tola Fakolade said at the launch. Twenty-seven airlines have been brought onto the platform, and 4,009 air cargo manifests and 405 sea manifests from 56 shipping lines have passed through it.
Fixing duplication
Fakolade said a key lesson from phase one was that up to four agencies could be involved in a single export task, forcing traders to repeat the same steps. Phase two focuses on reviews to cut that duplication, along with more training, wider awareness and expansion beyond Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano. He said some agencies still work on paper, which complicates operations.
Ngozi Ibe, regional coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, said growing non-oil exports needs "an efficient, transparent and globally competitive trade environment" as well as more production.
Source: BusinessDay, 12 November 2026.
