1. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the Customs administrations of the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Cameroon, has intensified discussions with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on a regional border-modernisation programme aimed at strengthening trade facilitation, improving cross-border efficiency and advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The high-level working engagement, held at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on 12 October 2026, followed a joint benchmarking mission to Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe and subsequent technical assessments of the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border corridors.

2. The engagement, led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, brought together representatives of the three Customs administrations, Afreximbank and technical partners to review findings from the assessment missions, identify priority interventions and explore practical pathways towards an integrated regional border-modernisation programme. Discussions focused on combining improvements in digital infrastructure, harmonised Customs procedures, secure data exchange and institutional capacity development with investments in cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, reliable electricity, connectivity, traffic management and modern border-processing facilities. The meeting also considered Afreximbank’s potential participation in the next Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) and progress towards regional and continental transit-guarantee arrangements.

3. A major component of the engagement was the Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES), designed to facilitate secure information exchange among Nigeria’s B’Odogwu platform, Benin’s Customs Webb and Cameroon’s CAMCIS. Built around a common data model, the system is intended to enable export information originating in one country to support the advance preparation of import-manifest information in the receiving country, thereby reducing duplication and improving the predictability of cross-border transactions. The receiving Customs administration will remain responsible for validating the information, applying national requirements, conducting risk assessments, and authorising clearance. Although development and technical testing have been undertaken, further country-specific configuration, application programming interface integration, security assurance and pilot acceptance remain necessary before deployment.

4. The discussions drew extensively on findings from the July 2026 Beitbridge benchmarking mission and subsequent assessments of the two priority corridors. The Beitbridge experience demonstrated the importance of treating a modern border as an integrated operational ecosystem encompassing traffic segmentation, pre-arrival processing, risk-based controls, cargo scanning, transit monitoring, electronic payments, information technology command centres, utilities, maintenance and effective governance. At Mfum–Ekok, the assessment identified gaps in dependable power supply, connectivity, information technology equipment, cybersecurity, technical support, scanner commissioning and coordinated single-stop processing. At Sèmè–Kraké, key challenges included incomplete joint procedures and live data exchange, non-functional cargo-scanning and weighing facilities, unreliable electricity, traffic congestion, inconsistent operating hours and unresolved responsibilities for maintaining shared infrastructure. These findings underscore the need to address immediate operational deficiencies alongside a properly assessed and costed long-term modernisation programme.

5. To advance the initiative, Afreximbank outlined a proposed two-stage approach beginning with independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at the two border posts, followed by the development of separate bankable project packages for the Nigeria–Benin and Nigeria–Cameroon corridors. The proposed project-preparation process would cover transaction advisory services, legal due diligence, financial modelling and the identification of appropriate implementation and financing arrangements. The Bank also outlined the potential use of its Project Preparation Facility, while technical partners, TMP and Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, expressed willingness in principle to consider self-financing the preparatory work. Although no final project cost, lending commitment, borrower designation, financing arrangement or implementation contract was established, participants agreed on the importance of direct site inspections, designated technical focal points, a clear one-, three- and six-month implementation roadmap and a dated action matrix to guide subsequent engagement.

6. The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team, reaffirms the commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, modernising border operations and facilitating legitimate trade in line with the objectives of AfCFTA. The Service will continue to engage with its counterparts in Benin and Cameroon, Afreximbank and relevant technical partners to advance the required assessments, clarify project-preparation arrangements and develop practical, sustainable solutions for the two border corridors to promote more efficient cross-border procedures, improve cargo visibility, strengthen coordinated border management and support the development of an integrated African trading environment.

ABDULLAHI MAIWADA, PhD, mnipr, mniia
Deputy Comptroller of Customs
National Public Relations Officer
for Comptroller-General of Customs