Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon Customs Move to Modernise Borders, Boost Intra-African Trade

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside the customs administrations of Benin and Cameroon, has advanced efforts to modernise regional border operations and strengthen intra African trade 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 Malèhossou Aboudou, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Excise at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Lonto Ndlovu, and Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu.

The mission was organised as part of ongoing efforts to deepen regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by promoting coordinated border management and modern customs systems.

Speaking during the adoption of the Joint Communiqué on Monday, Adeniyi described the visit as a strategic opportunity for African customs administrations to move beyond discussions on border reforms and embrace practical implementation of modern border management systems.

He said lessons from the Beitbridge and Chirundu border posts in Zimbabwe demonstrated that sustainable reforms require coordinated institutions, digital integration, clear accountability and skilled personnel rather than infrastructure alone.

According to him, the experience has renewed the commitment of participating countries to translate the lessons into practical solutions that will strengthen trade facilitation, border security and economic growth across the region.

"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," Adeniyi said.

During the mission, delegates participated in technical sessions, facility tours and executive briefings by Zimbabwean border agencies. The technical team, comprising officials from the Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin customs administrations, Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, and Bsmart Technologies, examined the Beitbridge Modernisation and Concession Model, including its financing structure, operational framework, revenue management systems and coordinated border governance architecture.

Participants also inspected freight terminals, cargo processing facilities, scanning operations, traffic management systems and integrated ICT infrastructure that support seamless border operations.

The Joint Communiqué signed at the end of the mission identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor linking Nigeria and Benin Republic, as well as the Mfum-Ekok corridor connecting Nigeria and Cameroon, as strategic trade routes that would benefit significantly from coordinated border management and One-Stop Border Post arrangements.

Cameroon Customs Director-General, Fongod Nuvaga, stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation to eliminate procedural bottlenecks while maintaining effective border controls.

He said closer collaboration among African customs administrations would enable countries to maximise the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA and accelerate continental economic integration.

Similarly, Benin Customs Director-General, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, said the Beitbridge experience offers practical lessons for improving border efficiency in West Africa through harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management and stronger institutional partnerships.

Also speaking, Afreximbank's Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, said the benchmarking exercise was designed to expose participating administrations to the governance structures, operational models and institutional reforms that underpin successful modern border posts.

He noted that while infrastructure remains important, sustainable performance depends on accountability, coordination, technology and measurable service standards.

The mission concluded with the signing of a Joint Communiqué committing Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin to establish a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to drive implementation of the recommendations from the visit.

The three customs administrations also pledged to pursue harmonised border procedures, digital interoperability, coordinated risk management systems and continuous investment in personnel development as part of efforts to facilitate trade and strengthen regional economic integration.