The Federal Government has introduced a temporary Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) default arrangement to address challenges affecting the attachment of shipment certificates (SCs) during the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) processing on the National Single Window (NSW) platform.
Details of the Temporary Measure
In a notice issued to importers, the NSW management stated that the intervention is designed only for importers with valid SCs who have encountered technical or procedural difficulties uploading the required documentation. Under this temporary measure, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has waived all SONCAP default fees ordinarily applicable in such cases. Importers are now required to pay a nominal administrative charge of N1,000 through the NSW platform to access the service.
Impact on Port Operations
The initiative will allow eligible importers to proceed with PAAR processing while awaiting resolution of document attachment issues. This move aims to prevent cargo clearance delays and associated costs at the ports. Currently, over 10,000 containers are trapped at the port due to issues surrounding SONCAP and PAAR. Importers, customs agents, and freight forwarders are already counting losses in demurrage, as Lagos ports remain congested.
Application Process
To utilise the provision, importers are required to apply via the NSW platform by selecting the “Temporary SONCAP Default” option under consignment documents. The notice urged applicants to upload a valid SC and a commercial invoice in PDF format before submitting for SON approval. Upon approval, they can proceed with PAAR processing.
Compliance and Duration
The authorities emphasised that the temporary measure does not replace standard SONCAP compliance requirements, and submitted documents must be valid and accurate. The measure takes immediate effect and will remain in force until May 10, 2026, after which full compliance with standard SONCAP procedures will resume.
