By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have intensified discussions on a regional border-modernisation programme designed to improve cross-border trade, strengthen Customs cooperation and advance the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative, which involves the Customs administrations of Nigeria, the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Cameroon, seeks to address operational challenges at key border corridors through improved digital infrastructure, harmonised Customs procedures, secure data exchange and investment in modern border facilities.
The discussions took place at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on October 12, 2026, following a joint benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe and subsequent technical assessments of the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border corridors.
The high-level engagement was led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and brought together representatives of the three Customs administrations, Afreximbank and technical partners to review assessment findings, identify priority interventions and explore practical approaches to developing an integrated regional border-modernisation programme.
According to the Nigeria Customs Service, the proposed initiative is expected to strengthen coordinated border management, improve cargo visibility, reduce delays in the movement of goods and create a more efficient environment for legitimate trade across the region.
A major area of discussion was the need to combine digital transformation with improvements in physical infrastructure and operational capacity at the identified border posts.
The proposed programme would cover digital systems, harmonised Customs procedures, secure information exchange and institutional capacity development, alongside investments in cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, reliable electricity, telecommunications connectivity, traffic management systems and modern border-processing facilities.
Participants also considered Afreximbank’s potential involvement in the next Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT), as well as progress towards establishing regional and continental transit-guarantee arrangements to facilitate the movement of goods across African countries.
The discussions recognised that modernising border operations requires more than installing equipment or introducing digital platforms. Sustainable improvements would also depend on reliable utilities, effective maintenance arrangements, clear institutional responsibilities, coordinated operating procedures and appropriate governance structures.
The approach is intended to address both immediate operational shortcomings and the longer-term infrastructure requirements necessary for efficient border management.
A central component of the proposed modernisation programme is the Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES), which is designed to facilitate secure information exchange among Nigeria’s B’Odogwu platform, Benin’s Customs Webb and Cameroon’s CAMCIS.
The system is being developed around a common data model that would allow export information generated in one country to support the advance preparation of import-manifest information in the receiving country.
By enabling Customs authorities to exchange relevant trade information before goods arrive at their destination, the platform is expected to reduce repetitive data entry, minimise administrative duplication and improve the predictability of cross-border transactions.
The proposed arrangement could also strengthen advance risk assessment and enable Customs administrations to prepare more effectively for the arrival and processing of cargo.
However, the system is not intended to transfer regulatory authority from one country to another. The receiving Customs administration would retain responsibility for validating the information received, applying its national requirements, conducting risk assessments and authorising the clearance of goods.
Although development and technical testing have already been undertaken, further work remains necessary before the system can be deployed. This includes country-specific configuration, application programming interface integration, security assurance and pilot acceptance.
The additional technical requirements are expected to help ensure that the system can operate securely and reliably across the participating Customs administrations while respecting their individual regulatory frameworks.
The discussions drew extensively on lessons from a July 2026 benchmarking mission to Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe, as well as technical assessments conducted at the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké corridors.
The Beitbridge experience demonstrated the importance of treating a modern border as an integrated operational ecosystem rather than a collection of isolated facilities.
Key elements identified included effective traffic segmentation, pre-arrival cargo processing, risk-based controls, cargo scanning, transit monitoring, electronic payments, information technology command centres, dependable utilities, regular maintenance and strong governance arrangements.
These components are considered essential to improving cargo movement, strengthening compliance and reducing bottlenecks at busy border crossings.
The assessment findings are expected to inform the proposed modernisation programme, particularly in determining the infrastructure, technology and institutional interventions required to improve operations at the two priority corridors.
At the Mfum–Ekok border corridor linking Nigeria and Cameroon, the technical assessment identified several shortcomings affecting the efficiency and reliability of border operations.
These included inadequate dependable electricity supply, connectivity challenges, insufficient information technology equipment, cybersecurity concerns, limited technical support, issues relating to scanner commissioning and gaps in coordinated single-stop processing.
Addressing these deficiencies would require targeted infrastructure upgrades, stronger technical support arrangements and closer operational coordination between the two countries’ Customs administrations.
At the Sèmè–Kraké corridor linking Nigeria and Benin, the assessment identified incomplete joint operating procedures, limited live data exchange and non-functional cargo-scanning and weighing facilities.
Other challenges included unreliable electricity, traffic congestion, inconsistent operating hours and unresolved responsibilities for maintaining shared infrastructure.
The findings highlight the need for the participating countries to strengthen institutional cooperation and establish clear arrangements for operating and maintaining facilities used jointly by their agencies.
They also underscore the importance of ensuring that investments in modern equipment are accompanied by adequate power supply, technical expertise, maintenance funding and effective operational management.
To move the initiative forward, Afreximbank outlined a proposed two-stage approach beginning with independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at the two border posts.
The first stage would establish the technical requirements, infrastructure gaps and estimated investment needs of the priority corridors.
The second stage would involve developing 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.
Afreximbank also outlined the potential use of its Project Preparation Facility to support the development of the projects.
Meanwhile, technical partners TMP and Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited expressed willingness in principle to consider self-financing the preparatory work.
However, the discussions did not establish a final project cost, lending commitment, designated borrower, financing arrangement or implementation contract.
This means that further assessments and consultations will be required before the proposed projects can advance to definitive financing and implementation decisions.
Participants nevertheless agreed on the importance of conducting direct site inspections, appointing designated technical focal points and developing a clear implementation roadmap covering one-, three- and six-month milestones.
They also agreed on the need for a dated action matrix to guide follow-up activities, clarify responsibilities and track progress towards the next stages of project development.
The proposed border-modernisation programme is aligned with the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to promote intra-African trade, facilitate the movement of goods and services and strengthen economic integration across the continent.
Efficient border operations are particularly important to achieving these objectives, as delays, fragmented procedures, poor infrastructure and limited information exchange can increase the cost of moving goods across national boundaries.
By improving Customs coordination and introducing more predictable border-processing procedures, the initiative seeks to create conditions that would enable businesses and traders to move goods more efficiently between participating countries.
Improved transit monitoring and secure data exchange could also strengthen cargo traceability and support risk-based enforcement, while better infrastructure and coordinated procedures could help reduce congestion and unnecessary administrative delays.
For Nigeria, closer collaboration with Benin and Cameroon offers an opportunity to improve the performance of important regional trade corridors while supporting wider efforts to expand legitimate trade and strengthen economic cooperation within Africa.
The success of the programme, however, will depend on the participating countries’ ability to translate the discussions into properly assessed projects, secure sustainable financing, establish clear institutional responsibilities and ensure that the proposed digital systems and physical infrastructure work together effectively.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, modernising border operations and facilitating legitimate trade in line with the objectives of AfCFTA.
Under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team, the Service said it would continue engaging its counterparts in Benin and Cameroon, Afreximbank and relevant technical partners to advance the necessary assessments and clarify project-preparation arrangements.
The engagement is expected to provide a framework for developing practical and sustainable solutions for the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké corridors, with emphasis on more efficient cross-border procedures, improved cargo visibility and stronger coordinated border management.
The Service maintained that sustained collaboration among Customs administrations, financial institutions and technical partners would be essential to developing an integrated African trading environment capable of supporting legitimate businesses and regional economic growth.
The next phase of the initiative will focus on technical assessments, project preparation, the clarification of financing options and the establishment of a time-bound roadmap to guide implementation.
The statement was signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, mnipr, mniia, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, for the Comptroller-General of Customs.
