National Single Window will fail without necessary infrastructure — Maritime expert
National Single Window Initiative Faces Criticism from Maritime Expert
By Providence Ayanfeoluwa
Dr. Segun Musa, Chief Consultant at Global Transport Policy, has raised concerns over the effectiveness of Nigeria’s National Single Window (NSW) initiative for cargo clearance. He described the NSW as merely a framework for housing various agencies, lacking the critical infrastructure needed to enable real transformation.
Musa emphasized that for the NSW to succeed, agencies must be adequately equipped. “Bringing agencies together under the NSW is not the solution on its own,” he stated. “Interactions may be faster, but without the necessary infrastructure, the effort will be frustrated.”
He critiqued the perception that the NSW can revolutionize the clearance process, asserting, “There has been a lot of noise about how the Single Window will change the dynamics, but it cannot change anything without strong underlying support.”
According to Musa, the NSW is currently an “ordinary shell” that requires the right components—namely, well-equipped agencies—to facilitate effective information sharing and collaboration. He stressed that merely consolidating agencies under one platform will not produce efficiency if those agencies lack the requisite tools and knowledge.
“The focus should be on ensuring these agencies are viable and possess the infrastructure to support integration into the system,” he advised. “Without capacity, even faster interactions will lead to frustration.”
Musa’s insights highlight the challenges facing Nigeria’s maritime sector as stakeholders continue to navigate the complexities of the National Single Window project.
