As efforts intensify to rejig the economy, create jobs and empower Nigerians to be more productive, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) are collaborating to introduce the much-awaited Single Window (SW) platform at the ports.

The Managing Director, NPA, Ms. Hadiza Balla Usman disclosed that the NPA and the NCS have embarked on the establishment of SW through an intense automation and introduction of Standard Operative Procedure (SOP) at ports.

Ms. Usman said the adoption of SW would make Nigeria’s ports competitive in the international trade network and boost the trade facilitation programme of the federal government.

Speaking during her courtesy visit to the  Comptroller General of Customs, Col Hameed Ali  (Rtd) in Abuja yesterday, Ms. Usman said, the synergy on SW would boost government revenue and promote Public Private Participation through the attraction of local and Foreign Direct Investment ( FDI).

Government, she also said, was aware of its responsibilities to create the enabling business environment to realize the objective.

The Federal Government, Ms Usman said, was determined to make the ports efficient, safe, secured, productive and business friendly.
NPA and Customs, she said, were the two arrow head agencies driving the logistic and financial portals  on behalf of the federal government and that the duo have the responsibility to synergize and build up a common industry culture around the ports towards achieving the right level in trade facilitation.
In her words “The goal of trade facilitation is to help trade across borders, import and export  faster, cheaper and more predictable while ensuring its safety and security. Trade facilitation focuses on simplifying and harmonizing formalities, procedures and the related exchange of information and documents between the various partners in a supply chain.
Transparency, simplification, harmonization and standardization of port operations, she added, could only be achieved by embarking on the establishment of a well-articulated single window system. I would therefore, urge us not to lose track as well as show relentless commitment in order to meet the target of Nigeria joining 20 other countries to be in the forefront of implementing an efficient, effective and sustainable single window in 2020”.
In his response, the CGC said that her visit would lead to regular meetings and constant consultation between the two agencies. Thereby, de-emphasize courtesy visit.
The Nigeria Customs Service, Ali said,  would do everything possible in  promoting the trade facilitation programme of the government through collaboration with sister agencies and robust  initiatives to promote business in the ports.
The Comptroller-General also promised to collaborate with the NPA to rejuvenate port operations and port security committees and ensure that the meetings are attended by senior officials of all the affected agencies and take responsibilities.