The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have intensified discussions on a regional border-modernisation programme aimed at improving cross-border trade, strengthening Customs cooperation and advancing the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative involves the Customs administrations of Nigeria, the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Cameroon, with a focus on upgrading border infrastructure, harmonising Customs procedures and enhancing digital information exchange.
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 technical assessments of the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border corridors.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Customs Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the engagement was led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
It 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 statement, the proposed programme will combine digital infrastructure improvements, harmonised Customs procedures, secure data exchange and institutional capacity development with investments in cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, electricity, connectivity, traffic management and modern border-processing facilities.
The meeting also examined Afreximbank’s potential participation in the next Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) and progress towards establishing regional and continental transit-guarantee arrangements.
A major component of the discussions was the proposed 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.
The system, built around a common data model, is expected to enable export information generated 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.
However, the receiving country’s Customs administration will retain responsibility for validating the information, enforcing national requirements, conducting risk assessments and authorising cargo clearance.
The statement noted that although development and technical testing of the system had been undertaken, further country-specific configuration, application programming interface integration, security assurance and pilot acceptance would be required before deployment.
On infrastructure and operational challenges, the Service said findings from the July 2026 benchmarking mission to Beitbridge highlighted the importance of treating modern border facilities as integrated operational systems.
These include traffic segmentation, pre-arrival processing, risk-based controls, cargo scanning, transit monitoring, electronic payments, information technology command centres, reliable utilities, maintenance and effective governance.
At the Mfum–Ekok border corridor, the assessment identified gaps in reliable electricity supply, connectivity, information technology equipment, cybersecurity, technical support, scanner commissioning and coordinated single-stop processing.
Similarly, the Sèmè–Kraké corridor faces challenges, including incomplete joint procedures and 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 findings, according to the NCS, underscore the need to address immediate operational shortcomings while developing a properly assessed and costed long-term modernisation programme.
To move the initiative forward, Afreximbank proposed a two-stage approach beginning with independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at the two border posts.
This would be 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 suitable implementation and financing arrangements.
Afreximbank also outlined the possible 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.
The statement clarified that no final project cost, lending commitment, borrower designation, financing arrangement or implementation contract had been established at the meeting.
Participants, however, agreed on the need for direct site inspections, the appointment of designated technical focal points and the development of a clear implementation roadmap covering one, three and six months, supported by a dated action matrix.
The NCS 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 and Cameroon, Afreximbank and relevant technical partners to advance the necessary assessments, clarify project-preparation arrangements and develop sustainable solutions for the two border corridors.
The initiative is expected 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 and National Public Relations Officer, issued the statement on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs.
