Customs, Afreximbank Advance Plans to Modernise Nigeria’s Borders Under AfCFTA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have intensified discussions on plans to modernise key border corridors linking Nigeria with the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Cameroon to facilitate trade and strengthen regional economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The discussions focused on developing an integrated border-modernisation programme to improve cross-border efficiency, harmonise Customs procedures, strengthen digital information exchange and upgrade critical infrastructure at the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border corridors.

The high-level engagement, held at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on 12 October 2026, brought together representatives of the Customs administrations of Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon, alongside Afreximbank and technical partners.

The meeting was led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and followed a joint benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe in July 2026, as well as subsequent technical assessments of the two priority border corridors.

According to the NCS, the meeting reviewed findings from the assessments, identified infrastructure and operational deficiencies, and explored practical approaches to establishing a coordinated regional border-modernisation programme.

The initiative is expected to combine investments in digital infrastructure, cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, electricity supply, telecommunications and modern border-processing facilities with improvements in Customs procedures, secure data exchange, traffic management and institutional capacity.

Participants also discussed Afreximbank’s potential involvement in the next Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) and progress towards regional and continental transit-guarantee arrangements designed to facilitate the movement of goods across African countries.

A major component of the discussions was the proposed Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES), which is intended to facilitate secure information exchange among Nigeria’s B’Odogwu platform, Benin’s Customs Webb and Cameroon’s CAMCIS.

The system is designed around a common data model that would allow export information generated in one country to support the advance preparation of import-manifest information in the destination country.

The arrangement is expected to reduce repetitive data entry, minimise duplication of documentation and improve the predictability of cross-border transactions.

Under the proposed system, information supplied by the exporting country would help the receiving Customs administration prepare for incoming consignments before their arrival. 

However, the receiving country’s Customs authority would retain responsibility for validating the information, enforcing national requirements, conducting risk assessments and authorising the clearance of goods.

Although development work and technical testing have been undertaken, the NCS said additional country-specific configuration, application programming interface integration, security assurance and pilot acceptance would be required before the system could be deployed.

The discussions also examined lessons from the Beitbridge Border Post, which served as a benchmark for the proposed modernisation programme.

The assessment highlighted the importance of treating a modern border as an integrated operational system rather than merely a collection of infrastructure and inspection facilities.

Key elements identified included traffic segmentation, pre-arrival processing, risk-based controls, cargo scanning, transit monitoring, electronic payments, information technology command centres, reliable utilities, maintenance arrangements and effective governance.

The subsequent assessment of the Mfum–Ekok corridor, linking Nigeria and Cameroon, identified shortcomings in electricity supply, telecommunications connectivity, information technology equipment, cybersecurity and technical support.

The assessment also highlighted the need to commission cargo scanners and improve coordinated single-stop border processing to reduce delays and improve the movement of goods between the two countries.

At the Sèmè–Kraké corridor linking Nigeria and Benin, the assessment identified incomplete joint operating procedures, inadequate live data exchange and non-functional cargo-scanning and weighing facilities.

Other challenges included unreliable electricity, traffic congestion, inconsistent operating hours and unresolved responsibilities for maintaining shared border infrastructure.

The NCS said the findings demonstrated the need to address immediate operational deficiencies while developing a properly assessed and costed long-term investment programme for the two corridors.

To move the initiative forward, Afreximbank proposed a two-stage approach beginning with independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at the two border posts.

The second stage would involve preparing 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.

Afreximbank also outlined the potential use of its Project Preparation Facility to support the process, while technical partners, TMP and Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, expressed willingness in principle to consider financing the preparatory work themselves.

However, the meeting did not establish a final project cost, lending commitment, borrower designation, financing arrangement or implementation contract.

Participants instead agreed on the need for direct inspections of the sites, the appointment of designated technical focal points and the development of a clear implementation roadmap covering one, three and six months.

They also agreed on the importance of preparing a dated action matrix to guide subsequent engagements, clarify responsibilities and monitor progress towards the proposed modernisation programme.

The initiative is expected to contribute to the objectives of AfCFTA by improving the efficiency of border operations, reducing unnecessary administrative duplication and strengthening coordination among Customs administrations.

AfCFTA seeks to expand trade among African countries by reducing barriers to the movement of goods and services and creating a more integrated continental market. Efficient border procedures and reliable trade infrastructure are considered important to achieving these objectives.

For Nigeria, improved coordination with Benin and Cameroon could help address delays associated with documentation, cargo inspection, infrastructure deficiencies and fragmented border procedures.

The proposed digital declaration exchange system could also improve the availability of trade information, support risk-based Customs controls and enable authorities to prepare for incoming cargo before it reaches the border.

In a statement issued by the Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation, border modernisation and the facilitation of legitimate trade.

Maiwada said the Service, under Adeniyi’s leadership, would continue working with its counterparts in Benin and Cameroon, Afreximbank and relevant technical partners to advance the necessary assessments and clarify project-preparation arrangements.

He added that the engagements would focus on developing practical and sustainable solutions for the two border corridors to promote more efficient cross-border procedures, improve cargo visibility and strengthen coordinated border management.

The Service said the broader objective was to support the development of an integrated African trading environment in line with the aspirations of AfCFTA.