Nigeria Customs, Afreximbank Deepen Talks on Regional Border Modernisation

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have intensified discussions on a regional border-modernisation programme aimed at facilitating cross-border trade, improving Customs operations and advancing the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The discussions, held at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on October 12, 2026, brought together representatives of the Customs administrations of Nigeria, Benin Republic and Cameroon, alongside the bank and technical partners.

In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs noted that the engagement, led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, followed a joint benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe and technical assessments of the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border corridors linking Nigeria with Cameroon and Benin Republic, respectively.

According to the statement the meeting reviewed findings from the assessment missions and explored practical measures to establish an integrated regional border-modernisation programme.

The proposed initiative is expected to combine digital infrastructure, harmonised Customs procedures, secure data exchange and institutional capacity development with investments in cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, electricity, telecommunications and modern border-processing facilities.

Participants also discussed Afreximbank’s potential involvement in the next Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) and efforts to establish regional and continental transit-guarantee arrangements.

A major focus of the engagement was the proposed Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES), designed to facilitate secure information sharing among Nigeria’s B’Odogwu platform, Benin’s Customs Webb and Cameroon’s CAMCIS.

The system is expected to allow export information generated in one country to support the advance preparation of import-manifest information in the receiving country, reducing repetitive documentation and improving the predictability of cross-border transactions.

However, the receiving Customs administration will retain responsibility for validating the information, conducting risk assessments, enforcing national requirements and authorising cargo clearance.

The Service noted that although the system had undergone development and technical testing, further country-specific configuration, system integration, security checks and pilot acceptance would be required before deployment.

Findings from the assessments also highlighted significant infrastructure and operational challenges requiring attention at the two border corridors.

At Mfum–Ekok, the assessment identified inadequate electricity supply, poor connectivity, insufficient information technology equipment, cybersecurity gaps, technical support limitations and outstanding issues relating to scanner commissioning and coordinated single-stop border processing.

At Sèmè–Kraké, the challenges included incomplete joint operating procedures, limited live data exchange, non-functional cargo-scanning and weighing facilities, unreliable electricity, traffic congestion, inconsistent operating hours and unclear responsibilities for maintaining shared infrastructure.

The Beitbridge benchmarking mission, conducted in July 2026, demonstrated the importance of an integrated approach to border management, including traffic control, pre-arrival processing, risk-based inspections, cargo scanning, transit monitoring, electronic payments and effective infrastructure maintenance.

To address the identified gaps, Afreximbank proposed a two-stage approach beginning with independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border posts.

The second stage would involve preparing separate bankable project packages for the Nigeria–Benin and Nigeria–Cameroon corridors, covering transaction advisory services, legal due diligence, financial modelling and appropriate financing and implementation arrangements.

The bank also indicated 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.

However, the meeting did not establish a final project cost, lending commitment, borrower designation, financing arrangement or implementation contract.

Participants instead agreed on the need for direct inspections of the border facilities, the appointment of designated technical focal points and the development of a one-, three- and six-month implementation roadmap, supported by a dated action matrix to guide subsequent engagements.

The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, modernising border operations and facilitating legitimate trade in line with AfCFTA objectives.

The Service said it would continue working with its counterparts in Benin Republic and Cameroon, Afreximbank and other technical partners to advance the required assessments and clarify project-preparation arrangements.

It added that the initiative was expected to improve cargo visibility, strengthen coordinated border management, streamline cross-border procedures and support the development of an integrated African trading environment.