By Stella Odueme
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have stepped up efforts to modernise border infrastructure and streamline cross-border trade among Nigeria, Benin Republic and Cameroon under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative is expected to improve Customs operations, strengthen regional cooperation and facilitate the movement of legitimate goods through more efficient and integrated border systems.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, led the Nigerian delegation to a high-level meeting at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on October 12, 2026.
The engagement followed a benchmarking mission to Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe and technical assessments of the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border corridors.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the meeting reviewed the assessment findings and identified priority areas for intervention.
He said representatives of the three countries’ Customs administrations, Afreximbank and technical partners examined measures to improve digital infrastructure, harmonise procedures, facilitate secure data exchange and strengthen institutional capacity.
The meeting also considered investments in cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, electricity supply, communication networks, traffic management systems and modern border-processing facilities.
According to the statement, discussions also covered Afreximbank’s possible participation in the next Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) and efforts to establish regional and continental transit-guarantee arrangements.
A key proposal was the Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES), which is designed to enable secure information exchange among Nigeria’s B’Odogwu platform, Benin’s Customs Webb and Cameroon’s CAMCIS.
The proposed system, built around a common data model, would allow export information generated in one country to support the advance preparation of import-manifest information in the destination country.
This is expected to reduce duplication, improve cargo visibility and make cross-border transactions more predictable.
However, the receiving Customs administration would retain responsibility for validating the information, enforcing national requirements, conducting risk assessments and authorising cargo clearance.
