Key Points

• FG requires airlines and shipping firms to submit all cargo manifests via National Single Window.

• The move aims to cut delays, simplify trade, and improve transparency at ports.

• Compliance will streamline cargo clearance and make port operations more efficient.

The Federal Government has told all airlines and shipping companies in Nigeria to submit their cargo manifests through the National Single Window (NSW).

The move is meant to make tracking shipments easier, reduce delays, and improve trade across the country.

Before now, the Nigeria Customs Service handled all manifest submissions for goods coming into and leaving Nigeria.

With this new directive, companies will now use a single digital platform instead of dealing with multiple offices.

Memo Details the New Requirement

A memo sent out on November 17, 2025, told shipping lines and airlines to link their operations to the NSW platform. This applies to both sea and air cargo.

The memo, signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, reminded stakeholders that the National Single Window project was launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 16, 2024.

It was designed to simplify import and export processes at Nigerian ports.

How the System Works

The ministry explained that the NSW brings all government agencies involved in trade onto one platform.

This means goods can be cleared faster, fewer delays happen at ports, and services run more smoothly.

The system follows international standards from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO).

Traders, shipping companies, and airlines now submit all their import and export documents just once, instead of going from one office to another.

Mandatory Compliance for Companies

“As a result, the NSW platform will be the single-entry point for the submission of all sea and air manifests,” the memo said. All companies must comply.

The memo was copied to key agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Expected Benefits

Officials say this new system will make trade easier, increase government revenue, and reduce unnecessary delays at ports.

For business owners, it should mean faster clearance of goods and fewer headaches with paperwork.

By putting all submissions in one place, the government hopes Nigeria can match international best practices and make it easier for traders and transporters to do business while keeping better oversight.