The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside the Customs administrations of Benin Republic and Cameroon, has reaffirmed its commitment to coordinated border management and regional economic integration, 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, his counterparts from Benin and Cameroon, officials of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), and other stakeholders to understudy Africa’s successful border modernisation model.
Speaking at the adoption of a Joint Communiqué, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the visit as a practical step towards strengthening trade facilitation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to him, the Beitbridge experience demonstrates that successful border reform depends not only on infrastructure, but also on institutional coordination, digital integration, accountability and skilled personnel.
Adeniyi said Nigeria would apply the lessons from the mission to improve border efficiency, enhance security, and support economic growth across the region.
The delegation toured cargo processing facilities, freight terminals, scanning operations and integrated ICT systems that have transformed Beitbridge into one of Africa’s most efficient border crossings.
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The Joint Communiqué identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor linking Nigeria and Benin and the Mfum-Ekok corridor connecting Nigeria and Cameroon as priority routes for the implementation of coordinated border management and One-Stop Border Post arrangements.
Director-General of the Cameroon Customs Administration, Fongod Nuvaga, said closer collaboration among African customs administrations would help eliminate trade bottlenecks while maintaining effective border security.
Similarly, the Director-General of Benin Customs, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, stressed that harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management and stronger institutional partnerships are essential for seamless trade across regional corridors.
Also speaking, Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion at Afreximbank, Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe, said modern border performance is driven by sound governance, technology, accountability and coordinated operations rather than infrastructure alone.
The mission ended with Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon signing a Joint Communiqué, establishing a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to implement the recommendations from the visit.
The three countries also committed to harmonising border procedures, promoting digital interoperability, strengthening coordinated risk management systems and investing in capacity building for customs personnel to accelerate intra-African trade under the AfCFTA.
