Customs, Afreximbank Advance Regional Border Modernisation Plan
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the customs administrations of Benin Republic and Cameroon, has intensified engagements with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on plans to modernise key regional border corridors to facilitate trade and strengthen the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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.
The engagement was led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and brought together representatives of the three customs administrations, Afreximbank and technical partners to review assessment findings, identify priority interventions and explore financing options for an integrated regional border-modernisation programme.
The proposed initiative seeks to combine digital infrastructure, harmonised customs procedures, secure data exchange and institutional capacity development with investments in cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, electricity, telecommunications, traffic management and modern border-processing facilities.
Participants also discussed Afreximbank’s potential involvement in the next Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) and progress towards establishing regional and continental transit-guarantee arrangements.
A major focus of the engagement was the proposed Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES), designed to facilitate secure information sharing among Nigeria’s B’Odogwu platform, Benin’s Customs Webb and Cameroon’s CAMCIS.
According to the NCS, the system is intended to enable export information generated in one country to support the advance preparation of import-manifest information in the receiving country, reducing duplication and improving the predictability of cross-border transactions.
However, the receiving customs administration will retain responsibility for validating the information, enforcing national requirements, conducting risk assessments and authorising cargo clearance.
The Service 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.
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The discussions also examined findings from the July 2026 benchmarking mission to Beitbridge, which highlighted the importance of integrated border management encompassing traffic segmentation, pre-arrival processing, risk-based controls, cargo scanning, transit monitoring, electronic payments, information technology command centres and effective infrastructure maintenance.
Assessments of the Mfum–Ekok corridor identified deficiencies in reliable electricity supply, connectivity, information technology equipment, cybersecurity, technical support, scanner commissioning and coordinated single-stop border processing.
At Sèmè–Kraké, the assessment highlighted incomplete joint procedures and real-time data exchange, non-functional cargo-scanning and weighing facilities, unreliable electricity, traffic congestion, inconsistent operating hours and unresolved responsibilities for maintaining shared infrastructure.
The findings underscored the need to address immediate operational shortcomings while developing a properly assessed and costed long-term modernisation programme.
To advance the initiative, Afreximbank proposed a two-stage approach beginning with independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at the two border posts, followed by the preparation of separate bankable project packages for the Nigeria–Benin and Nigeria–Cameroon corridors.
The proposed project-preparation process would include 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.
The meeting, however, did not establish a final project cost, lending commitment, borrower designation, financing arrangement or implementation contract.
Participants instead agreed on the need for direct site inspections, designated technical focal points, a clear implementation roadmap covering one, three and six months, and a dated action matrix to guide subsequent engagements.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation, border modernisation and the facilitation of 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 assessments, clarify project-preparation arrangements and develop sustainable solutions for the two corridors.
The proposed interventions are expected to support more efficient cross-border procedures, improve cargo visibility, strengthen coordinated border management and contribute to the development of an integrated African trading environment.
By PRNigeria
