Barely Stephen Ubanna
Barely 13 years, after former President Goodluck Jonathan had initiated the National Single Widow Project which never saw the light of day until he vacated office on May 29, 2015, President Bola Bola Ahmed, who incidentally was a former Lagos state governor is determined to see to the realization of the Noth American country of the United States, US, multi-million dollar systems.
The Nigerian President may have developed unshakable interest on the National Single Window Project, initiative aimed at implementing a centralized electronic trade platform, which was said to have been neglected and abandoned by the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration because of the enormous economic gains.
According to a Presidency source, the National Single Window Platform, described as a game changer is expected ‘’to streamline trade processes for importers / by integrating and harmonizing data from multiple government agencies and industry stakeholders and enhancing economic efficiency’’.
The Project, which Steering Committee is being Coordinated from the President’s office is also expected to allow trade stakeholders’ ‘to interface electronically, submitting and distributing documents including Customs declarations, import /export permit applications, trading invoices and Certificates of origin to accelerate and secure the supply chain’’.
Giving the economic advantages of the National Single Window Project, which they had put at about US $2.7 billion , the former Lagos state governor was said to have told those that cares to listen that if the Asian countries like Singapore, South Korea, and the Middle East country of Saudi Arabia including the East African country of Kenya, could benefit from the implementation the project going by the significant improvements in trade efficiency in their respective countries there is no basis why Nigerian cannot benefit from it., if fully implemented.
The Nigerian President who was said to have thrown his weight behind Adegboyega Oyetola, ex-governor of Osun state and now minister of marine and blue economy, who appears to be acting out the script of the President to ensure the realization of the National single Window systems where businesses can save time, resources and where Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, SMEs, in Nigerian can reach global markets and increase the country tax revenue base is not relenting in his efforts.
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, Customs Comptroller General, CGC, who was said to have worked closely with Abdullahi Dikko, a former CGC , now deceased and Hameed Ali, a retired Army Colonel and immediate past, CGC , may have been exposed to all the efforts put in place by the duo to see to actualization of the Project that he is leaving no stone upturned to ensure that it is implemented in Nigeria.
Aware that the National Single Window Project will greatly enhance importers/exporters trading operations by eliminating paper and reducing timescales, keeping information up-to- date and in one secure place for reference purposes may have informed why he had pursued the implementation of the National Single systems by tapping his contacts in the Presidency and the ministry of marine and blue economy and even reached out to Michael Olayemi Cardoso, governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who was said to have thrown his weight behind the implementation of the National Single Widow Project in Nigeria.
Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy had alluded to the engagement with the NCS, helmsman and other relevant agencies including the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, under the close watch of Abubakar Dantsoho and the CBN, recently for the full rollout of the National Single indow Project which he had said will ‘’eliminate human interface and deepen efficiency of the country’s seaports’’.
Signs that that the Nigerian Government is serious in rolling out the National Single Window Project, as assured by the minister of marine and blue economy, may have encouraged the Customs boss to expedite action on the expansion of the B’ Odowu technology, described in maritime circles as the unified Customs Management system,, managed by Trade Modernization Project , with the support of the China based Hawei Technology company to all Customs Formations across the country.
The B’Odogwu, which is an indigenous technology which was said to have replaced the previous foreign technology, Nigeria Integrated Customs Information Systems, NICIS II, managed by Web Fountain at the various Customs Formations.
At present the B’Odogwu system is being implement in the service three Commands: Port Multi-services Terminal Limited while the advanced B’Odogwu technology is currently being implemented at Apapa and Tin-can Island Commands, all based in Lagos. Note that the three Customs Commands are based in Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve center.
Describing the upcoming National Single Window systems as unique, Societe Generale de ’Surveillance, SGS, a Geneva, Swiss based company in testing, inspection and certification products and known for its expertise in ensuring the quality, safety and compliance of the products and processes across various countries had said that ‘’the key to a successful Single Window Solution ‘’lies in a thorough assessment of needs, financing options and implementation strategy’’.
Recall that the Swiss based Company had promised to be involved in conducting a full feasibility of the National Single Window Project, establishing project postings and equally provide 100% financing for the systems as well as devise and manage a phased implementation of the programme but that was how far it could go.
The Swiss based company may have taken the bold initiative because of its believe that the best route for a successful National Single Window Project is through close relationship between the Public and Private sectors by means of a Public -Private Partnership, PPP.
Whether the Swiss company will still keep to its earlier promise to manage the phased implementation of the National Window Project remain to be seen. This is where Adeniyi, the CGC, who had been in the picture for the planned implementation of the multi-million dollars project by previous Administrations may have to reach out to officials of SGS, to know whether their initial plan still stands.
Whichever, it may go, the CGC, t and the ministry of marine and blue economy, under the Leadership of Oyetola, have all that the takes to ensure the successful implementation of the National Window Project , whenever the Federal Government roll it out.
