Nigeria, Niger Customs Sign MoU on Safe Transit Corridors, Border Security
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the provision of safe corridors and guaranteed passage for trucks conveying transit cargo to the Republic of Niger, in a move aimed at easing persistent bottlenecks and strengthening cross-border trade and security.
Adeniyi disclosed this on Friday, February 6, 2026, during a high-level bilateral meeting between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Niger Republic Customs Administration at the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja. The Nigerien delegation was led by its Director-General, Muhammadu Yaqouba.
According to the CGC, the initiative is designed to facilitate the smooth movement of transit goods—particularly consignments from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports destined for neighbouring countries—while ensuring that Nigeria’s security and economic interests remain protected.
He assured that transit cargo would continue to be processed and moved within 48 hours, stressing that stringent measures are in place to prevent diversion. He warned that economic operators who violate transit regulations would face stiff sanctions.
Adeniyi noted that non-compliance by a few operators has continued to create non-tariff barriers and erode trust along transit corridors. He said the Service is determined to streamline documentation processes and eliminate avoidable obstacles along key routes, including the Illela–Sokoto–Kamba–Niger Republic corridor, as well as corridors linking Apapa ports and airports to neighbouring countries.
The Customs boss congratulated Yaqouba on his appointment as Director-General of Niger Republic Customs, noting that both administrations share a long history of professional collaboration through the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and other bilateral platforms.
“Cooperation between our Customs services is shaped not only by shared borders, but also by international obligations—particularly Nigeria’s responsibilities under Articles 124 to 132 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantee landlocked countries access to the sea,” Adeniyi said.
He acknowledged the unique operational challenges faced by landlocked countries, explaining that reliance on neighbouring ports and infrastructure often increases transaction costs and weakens competitiveness.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has consistently demonstrated its commitment to facilitating trade for our landlocked neighbours, including the Republic of Niger. This commitment will be sustained irrespective of political differences, because trade facilitation, security and regional stability are deeply interconnected,” he added.
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Describing the engagement as the beginning of a renewed phase of cooperation, Adeniyi stressed that sustained follow-up actions would help redefine operational modalities, reduce costs, increase trade volumes and make the transit corridor more attractive to transport operators.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Niger Republic Customs Administration, Muhammadu Yaqouba, described the visit as a working engagement between two professional Customs administrations bound by shared responsibilities.
He thanked the Nigeria Customs Service for the warm reception accorded to him and his delegation, noting that it reflected the longstanding fraternity between both countries and their Customs institutions.
According to Yaqouba, the visit was prompted by two major concerns: the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from the Republic of Benin to the Niger Republic, and prevailing security challenges across the region.
“We face common security threats, particularly terrorism and banditry, and engagements like this provide an opportunity to develop lasting solutions through cooperation and coordination,” he said.
He disclosed that since 2024, the Niger Republic has intensified efforts to combat terrorism through Operation *Saran Kasa*—a coordinated initiative involving all national security agencies—which has recorded notable successes.
As part of the operation, scanners have been deployed to inspect all goods entering the Niger Republic. He stressed that Customs administrations play a critical role in the fight against terrorism, arms trafficking and cross-border criminality.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Major-General Garba Laka, congratulated Yaqouba on his appointment and extended condolences to the Government and people of Niger over the recent terrorist attack near Niamey Airport.
Describing the incident as deeply painful, he sympathised with the families of the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed the shared determination of Nigeria and Niger to prevent a recurrence.
Major-General Laka noted that Nigeria and Niger share more than borders, describing the two countries as one people bound by deep historical, cultural and familial ties, particularly among border communities.
“Insecurity in any part of the Sahel affects all of us. Arms trafficking, drug smuggling and the concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles remain serious threats that demand coordinated and sustained action,” he said.
He disclosed that the Nigerian Government accords high priority to Niger-related matters, including trade, energy supply and security, adding that requests from Niger—especially on petroleum products and gas—receive prompt attention at the highest levels.
The NCTC coordinator advocated the revival of bilateral security frameworks such as cross-border right-of-pursuit arrangements, called for joint Nigeria–Niger operations and sustained inter-agency collaboration, and expressed confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would translate into concrete and measurable actions.
By PRNigeria
