NewzBy Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced discussions with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on plans to modernise Nigeria’s borders with Benin Republic and Cameroon to improve trade facilitation and cross-border efficiency. The proposed sub-regional programme is also aimed at advancing the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through improved border infrastructure, harmonised Customs procedures and more efficient movement of goods. A statement issued by the NCS on Sunday said the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, led a high-level working engagement at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, last week.
The discussions followed a joint benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe and subsequent technical assessments of the Mfum–Ekok and Sèmè–Kraké border corridors linking Nigeria with Cameroon and Benin, respectively. The meeting brought together representatives of the three countries’ Customs administrations, Afreximbank and technical partners to review findings from the assessments, identify priority interventions and explore practical approaches to an integrated regional border-modernisation programme. Discussions focused on digital infrastructure, harmonised Customs procedures, secure data exchange and institutional capacity development, alongside investments in cargo scanners, weighbridges, access roads, reliable electricity, telecommunications, traffic management and modern border-processing facilities.
The meeting also considered Afreximbank’s potential participation in the next Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) and progress towards regional and continental transit-guarantee arrangements. A major component of the engagement was the proposed Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES), designed to facilitate secure information exchange among Nigeria’s B’Odogwu platform, Benin’s Customs Webb and Cameroon’s CAMCIS. Built around a common data model, the system is intended to enable export information originating in one country to support the advance preparation of import-manifest information in the receiving country, reducing duplication and making cross-border transactions more predictable.
The NCS explained that the receiving country’s Customs administration would retain responsibility for validating the information…
Summary from source