Regulators seek waivers for importers as Single Window causes early trouble

Nigeria’s shipping regulator and revenue service called on terminal operators to waive demurrage and storage charges for importers caught in delays since the National Single Window (NSW) went live on March 27.

The request came as stakeholders gathered at the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) headquarters to assess the digital platform’s troubled rollout.

Zach Adedeji, chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), said the delays were “single window induced” and urged operators to show understanding. “That is why we are here to seek your support while we are passing through this initial stage,” he said

The NSW upon launch promised to consolidate port documentation for traders and cut processing costs.

Akutah Pius, chief executive of the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, conceded the platform had brought “optimism to stakeholders” but came with “teething problems that must be collectively addressed.”

Read also: Explainer: What to know as Nigeria’s National Single Window goes live March 27

Tunde Keshinro, general manager of Port and Terminal Multi-Services, signalled openness to waivers but with conditions.

“It’s a national project that will benefit everyone. There are importers that are efficient and those with genuine needs would be attended to and we shouldn’t encourage inefficiencies,” he said.

Adedeji also pressed operators to fast-track automation. “With the advent of the National Single Window, the need for full automation of systems has become even more crucial,” he said, signalling that the platform’s success depends on terminal operators upgrading their own infrastructure.