NCS, AFREXIMBANK DEEPENS COLLABORATION ON REGIONAL BORDER MODERNISATION UNDER AfCFTA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the Customs administrations of the Republic of Benin and the Republic of Cameroon, has intensified discussions with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on a regional border-modernisation programme aimed at strengthening trade facilitation, improving cross-border efficiency and advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The high-level working engagement, held at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on 12 October 2026, followed a joint benchmarking mission to Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe and subsequent technical assessments of the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border corridors.

The engagement, led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, brought together representatives of the three Customs administrations, Afreximbank and technical partners to review findings from the assessment missions, identify priority interventions and explore practical pathways towards an integrated regional border-modernisation programme.

Discussions focused on combining improvements in digital infrastructure, harmonised Customs procedures, secure data exchange and institutional capacity development with investments in cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, reliable electricity, connectivity, traffic management and modern border-processing facilities.

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.

Although no final project cost, lending commitment, borrower designation, financing arrangement or implementation contract was established, participants agreed on the importance of direct site inspections, designated technical focal points, a clear one-, three- and six-month implementation roadmap and a dated action matrix to guide subsequent engagement.

The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team, reaffirms the commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, modernising border operations and facilitating legitimate trade in line with the objectives of AfCFTA. The Service will continue to engage with its counterparts in Benin and Cameroon, Afreximbank and relevant technical partners to advance the required assessments, clarify project-preparation arrangements and develop practical, sustainable solutions for the two border corridors to promote more efficient cross-border procedures, improve cargo visibility, strengthen coordinated border management and support the development of an integrated African trading environment.

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