Nigeria’s largest terminal operator seeks faster cargo evacuation through Single Window fixes

Nigeria’s largest container terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa, is seeking to accelerate cargo evacuation in its terminals by helping resolve teething problems in the National Single Window platform.

The company convened officials from the National Single Window project, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and importers to address operational bottlenecks ranging from permit processing and Harmonised System (HS) code classification to documentation errors that have slowed cargo clearance during the platform’s phase one rollout.

“We want customers to be vocal about the issues they are facing so that together we can find practical solutions and continue improving the cargo clearance process,” Kamal Alhraishat, managing director of APM Terminals Apapa, said at the stakeholder forum in Lagos.

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Delays beyond a terminal operator’s direct control can weigh on port efficiency. Containers cannot leave the terminal until the required regulatory approvals have been obtained, meaning technical glitches, incorrect HS code assignments or documentation errors can prolong container dwell times, reduce available yard capacity and slow the movement of cargo through the port.

Iliya Shall, chief standards officer of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), identified incorrect documentation, inadequate awareness and improper use of Harmonised System Codes as some of the most common causes of delays experienced by importers.

He explained that SON permits issued under the Product Registration process are available for both single and multiple use, with multiple-use permits remaining valid for one year.

Officials overseeing the National Single Window acknowledged that the digital platform has experienced implementation challenges but said performance is improving.

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Peter Ekunkoya, director of operations for the project, said support requests have fallen from about 30 percent during the early stages of deployment to roughly 10 percent as technical improvements and integration with the Nigeria Customs Service’s B’Odogwu platform have progressed.

He said resistance to change, payment-related issues and user adaptation were among the early challenges encountered during deployment. He promised that issues related to HS Codes, quantity declarations and decimal entries were being progressively addressed.

Jude Oboh, subject matter expert of the National Single Window, explained that permit fees are calculated using established rates based on invoice values, while higher cargo volumes naturally attract higher charges.

Oboh also disclosed that the National Single Window is currently refining the assignment of HS Codes to the appropriate regulatory agencies to eliminate unnecessary permit requests.