The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC-RGT) has completed its review of the Nigerian maritime sector’s performance in 2025 and urged stakeholders to build on existing reforms by prioritising the consolidation of port automation and the National Single Window project as key drivers of competitiveness in 2026.
In its assessment, SEREC highlighted that while foundational steps toward digitalisation and trade facilitation were taken throughout 2025, progress on fully integrating automation across port operations and implementing a unified digital trade platform remained incomplete. The group emphasised that effective automation and a functional National Single Window are critical to reducing cargo dwell times, lowering trade costs, and enhancing procedural transparency.
The centre identified 2026 as a pivotal year in which Nigeria’s maritime industry must transition from policy articulation to substantive operational outcomes, particularly around digitalisation and inter-agency coordination. According to SEREC, the National Single Window system — designed to streamline port documentation and approval processes into a single digital platform — must be fully operationalised to deliver measurable improvements in efficiency.
SEREC’s evaluation underscores the need for cohesive implementation strategies, stronger governance frameworks, and improved stakeholder engagement to ensure that digital initiatives deliver sustainable gains and strengthen Nigeria’s position in regional and global maritime trade.
January 1, 2026 — Source: ShippingDayLive