Importers and clearing agents have raised concerns over mounting demurrage costs at Nigerian seaports, blaming delays linked to the National Single Window (NSW) platform for prolonged cargo clearance processes.

The National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, Lucky Amiwero, along with other customs agents, alleged that some importers now pay as much as N100,000 daily in demurrage to shipping companies and terminal operators while awaiting approvals from regulatory agencies.

Speaking with Vanguard, Amiwero described the platform as ineffective, arguing that it has complicated rather than streamlined port operations.

According to him, delays in obtaining approvals from agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have worsened congestion and increased the cost of doing business.

He argued that the current structure of the National Single Window falls short of the globally accepted model of a true single-window platform.

“The National Single Window is not effective. What we have now is more of a multiple-window system that duplicates Customs functions,” he said.

“A proper single window should involve single administration, single transaction, and single delivery. Once processes are harmonised at the backend, cargo clearance should be seamless.

“But importers are still required to interact separately with agencies like NAFDAC and SON. That defeats the purpose of a single-window system.”

Amiwero further alleged that the Nigerian Revenue Service, which is driving the initiative, lacks the expertise required for customs and import procedures, insisting that tax administration and customs operations should remain separate.

According to him, consignments are often trapped at terminals for weeks due to delays in approvals and documentation processing, leading to huge financial losses for importers.

“Some importers are paying close to N100,000 daily in demurrage because their cargoes remain uncleared for two or three weeks. Government needs to review the system and properly harmonise the process,” he added.

Responding to the allegations, the Director of Communications for NSW, Tola Fakolade, said criticisms of the platform largely stem from resistance to stricter compliance procedures introduced under the system.

He clarified that the first phase of the initiative was never designed to guarantee one-day approvals for all regulatory processes.

“What we promised was a unified entry point where importers and stakeholders can process documentation seamlessly without moving from one agency office to another,” he said.

Fakolade acknowledged existing implementation challenges, particularly inherited backlogs within some agencies, but noted that efforts were ongoing to resolve them.

“For NAFDAC specifically, there was already a backlog before the National Single Window went live, and that accounts for some of the delays currently being experienced. However, the agency is working to clear the pending applications,” he added. (Vanguard)