FIRS to drive technology-enabled trade facilitation at MARCON retreat

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is set to lead strategic discussions at the upcoming All Maritime Journalists Retreat organized by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) aims to highlight  her crucial role in driving technology-enabled trade facilitation and supporting government efforts to modernize revenue and compliance processes.

This year’s retreat is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at De Marii Hotel LFZ, Lagos Free Trade Zone, Lekki, with the theme: “Maximising Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Import and Export Trade.

The FIRS is expected to present a technical paper, “Onboarding on the National Single Window Platform: A Step-By-Step Guide”, providing attendees with hands-on insights into integrating with the National Single Window (NSW) – a cutting-edge platform aimed at simplifying documentation, boosting transparency, and optimizing import and export processes.

In a press release jointly signed by Paul Ogbuokiri, Chairman and Adaku Onyenucheya, Secretary of the Conference Planning Committee, MARCON said that with the NSW Secretariat domiciled within the FIRS, the agency’s participation underscores its crucial role in driving technology-enabled trade facilitation and supporting government efforts to modernise revenue and compliance processes.

The release further stated that with the NSW targeted to go fully live by the first quarter of 2026, the conference is both timely and strategic, offering a platform for the FIRS to educate stakeholders on the onboarding process and clarify compliance expectations.

Beyond the technical sessions, the retreat will provide an avenue for maritime journalists to deepen their understanding of the digital tools and policy frameworks reshaping Nigeria’s trade environment. Participants will be exposed to practical use cases and expert-led analyses to strengthen their reportage and industry engagement.

The retreat is also expected to foster stronger collaboration between the media and regulatory agencies, with a view to promoting accurate, development-focused coverage that supports Nigeria’s efforts to build a more competitive and technology-driven maritime sector.