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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its counterparts in Benin Republic and Cameroon have identified unreliable electricity, non-functional cargo scanners, traffic congestion and poor digital connectivity as major obstacles to efficient cross-border trade.
The three countries are intensifying discussions with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on a proposed regional border-modernisation programme aimed at addressing the infrastructure and operational challenges.
The initiative targets the Mfum-Ekok border corridor between Nigeria and Cameroon and the Sèmè-Kraké corridor linking Nigeria and Benin, with plans to improve customs procedures, digital infrastructure, cargo monitoring and coordination among border agencies.
However, the NCS said no final project cost, lending commitment, financing arrangement or implementation contract had been agreed upon.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Abdullahi Maiwada, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, the discussions took place at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on October 2, 2026.
The meeting followed a benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe and technical assessments of the two priority border corridors in West and Central Africa.
The engagement was led by Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and brought together representatives of the customs administrations of Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon, alongside Afreximbank and technical partners.
According to the NCS, the assessments revealed significant infrastructure and operational shortcomings that could undermine efforts to facilitate legitimate trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The statement reads in part: “A major component of the engagement was the Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES) designed to facilitate a secure information exchange among Nigeria’s B’ Odogwu platform, Benin’s Webb and Cameroon CAMCIS.
“Built around a common data model, the system is intended to enable export information originating 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.
“The receiving Customs administration will remain responsible for validating the information, applying national requirements, conducting risk assessments, and authorising clearance. Although development and technical testing have been undertaken, further country-specific configuration, application programming interface integration, security assurance and pilot acceptance remain necessary before deployment.
“The discussions drew extensively on findings from the July 2026 Beitbridge benchmarking mission and subsequent assessments of the two priority corridors. The Beitbridge experience demonstrated the importance of treating a modern border as an integrated operational ecosystem encompassing traffic segmentation, pre-arrival processing, risk-based controls, cargo scanning, transit monitoring, electronic payments, information technology command centres, utilities, maintenance and effective governance.
“At Mfum- Ekok, the assessment identified gaps in dependable power supply, connectivity, information technology equipment, cybersecurity, technical support, scanner commissioning and coordinated single-stop processing,” it stated.
The NCS explained that the Sèmè-Kraké corridor faces similar challenges, including non-functional cargo-scanning and weighing facilities, traffic congestion, inconsistent operating hours, incomplete joint customs procedures and unresolved responsibilities for maintaining shared infrastructure.
The statement further reads: “At Sèmè-Kraké, key challenges included incomplete joint procedures and live data exchange, nonfunctional cargo-scanning and weighing facilities, unreliable electricity, traffic congestion, inconsistent operating hours and unresolved responsibilities for maintaining shared infrastructure.
“These findings underscore the need to address immediate operational deficiencies alongside a properly assessed and costed long-term modernisation programme.
“To advance the initiative, Afreximbank outlined a proposed two-stage approach beginning with independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at the two border posts, 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 appropriate implementation and financing arrangements. The Bank also outlined 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.
“Although no final project cost, lending commitment, borrower designation, financing arrangement or implementation contract was established, participants agreed on the importance of direct site inspections, designated technical focal points, a clear one-, three- and six-month implementation roadmap and a dated action matrix to guide subsequent engagement.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team, reaffirms the commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, modernising border operations and facilitating legitimate trade in line with the objectives of AfCFTA.
“The Service will continue to engage with its counterparts in Benin and Cameroon, Afreximbank and relevant technical partners to advance the required assessments, clarify projectpreparation arrangements and develop practical, sustainable solutions for the two border corridors to promote more efficient cross-border procedures, improve cargo visibility, strengthen coordinated border management and support the development of an integrated African trading environment, the statement added.”
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