The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside the customs administrations of Benin and Cameroon, has reaffirmed its commitment to coordinated border management, trade facilitation and regional economic integration following a high-level benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The five-day mission, supported by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), brought together the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi; Director-General of Cameroon Customs, Fongod Nuvaga; Director-General of Benin Customs, Raouf Aboudou; Acting Commissioner of Customs and Excise at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), Lonto Ndlovu; and Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu.
The visit was organised to expose participating customs administrations to modern border management practices aimed at strengthening trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking during the adoption of the Joint Communiqué on July 27, 2026, Adeniyi described the exercise as a strategic opportunity for African customs administrations to move from policy discussions to practical implementation of modern border management systems.
According to him, the experiences from the Beitbridge and Chirundu Border Posts demonstrated that successful border reforms require strong institutional coordination, digital integration and collaborative leadership.
“Beitbridge has demonstrated that border modernisation is not merely about infrastructure development. Sustainable reform depends on coordinated institutions, clear accountability, digital interoperability and professional human capital. We are leaving here with a renewed commitment to translate these lessons into practical solutions that will strengthen trade facilitation, security and economic growth across our region,” he said.
During the mission, participants attended technical sessions, executive briefings and facility tours covering freight terminals, cargo processing centres, scanning operations, traffic management systems and integrated ICT infrastructure supporting seamless border operations.
A technical team comprising officials from the Nigeria Customs Service, Cameroon Customs Administration, Benin Customs Administration, Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, and Bsmart Technologies also presented the Beitbridge Modernisation and Concession Model, highlighting its financing structure, operational framework, revenue management systems and coordinated border governance.
The Joint Communiqué identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor between Nigeria and Benin Republic, as well as the Mfum-Ekok corridor linking Nigeria and Cameroon, as strategic trade routes that would benefit from coordinated border management and One-Stop Border Post arrangements.
Director-General of Cameroon Customs, Fongod Nuvaga, stressed the need for stronger collaboration among African customs administrations to eliminate procedural bottlenecks while maintaining effective border security.
He said enhanced regional cooperation would enable African countries to maximise the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA and accelerate economic integration across the continent.
Similarly, Director-General of Benin Customs, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, said the Beitbridge model provides practical lessons for improving border efficiency across West Africa.
He emphasised that harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management and stronger institutional partnerships would be essential for seamless trade and improved revenue generation.
Also speaking, Afreximbank’s Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe, said the benchmarking exercise was designed to expose participating countries not only to modern infrastructure but also to the governance systems and operational models that drive efficient border management.
He noted that accountability, technology, institutional coordination and measurable service standards remain the key ingredients for successful border operations across Africa.
The mission concluded with the signing of a Joint Communiqué committing Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon to establish a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of recommendations from the visit.
The three customs administrations also pledged to harmonise border procedures, promote digital interoperability, strengthen coordinated risk management systems and invest in continuous personnel development to enhance trade facilitation and regional economic integration.
