By Peace Udugba
Three customs administrations agree on coordinated border management, digital integration and one-stop border posts to strengthen regional trade corridors.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside the customs administrations of Benin Republic and Cameroon, has taken a major step towards strengthening regional trade and border efficiency 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, MFR; Director-General of Cameroon Customs, Mr Fongod Nuvaga; Director-General of Benin Customs, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou; Acting Commissioner of Customs and Excise at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), Mrs Lonto Ndlovu; and Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu.
The visit formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through coordinated border management and modern customs operations.
Speaking during the adoption of the Joint Communiqué on Monday, July 27, 2026, Adeniyi described the benchmarking mission as a strategic opportunity for African customs administrations to move beyond policy discussions and embrace practical implementation of modern border management systems.
He said the experiences at the Beitbridge and Chirundu border posts in Zimbabwe underscored the need for coordinated institutional frameworks, digital integration and collaborative leadership to transform Africa’s trade corridors.
“Beitbridge has demonstrated that border modernisation is not merely about infrastructure development. The most important lesson for us is that sustainable reform depends on coordinated institutions, clear accountability, digital interoperability and professional human capital. We are leaving here with a renewed commitment to translate these lessons into practical solutions that will strengthen trade facilitation, security and economic growth across our region,” Adeniyi said.
During the mission, participants attended technical sessions, executive briefings and facility tours led by Zimbabwean border agencies.
A technical team comprising officials from the Nigeria Customs Service, Cameroon Customs Administration, Benin Customs Administration, Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, and Bsmart Technologies briefed the customs chiefs on the Beitbridge Border Modernisation and Concession Model, including its financing structure, operational framework, revenue management systems and coordinated governance architecture.
The delegation also toured freight terminals, cargo processing facilities, scanning operations, traffic segmentation systems and integrated ICT infrastructure supporting seamless border operations.
The exercise provided first-hand insights into how technology, institutional collaboration and performance management have transformed Beitbridge into one of Africa’s most efficient border crossings.
According to the Joint Communiqué signed by the participating customs administrations, the mission aligns with broader continental efforts to facilitate trade across West Africa and between West and Central Africa.
The communiqué identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor linking Nigeria and Benin Republic, as well as the Mfum-Ekok corridor connecting Nigeria and Cameroon, as strategic routes expected to benefit significantly from coordinated border management and One-Stop Border Post arrangements.
Also speaking, Director-General of the Cameroon Customs Administration, Mr Fongod Nuvaga, stressed the need for stronger regional collaboration to eliminate bottlenecks affecting legitimate trade while maintaining effective border security.
He said closer cooperation among African customs administrations would enable countries to maximise the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA and accelerate regional economic integration.
Similarly, Director-General of the Benin Customs Administration, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, said the Beitbridge model offers practical solutions for improving border efficiency across West Africa.
He noted that harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management systems and stronger institutional partnerships are essential to achieving seamless trade across regional corridors while enhancing revenue collection.
Earlier, Afreximbank’s Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, said the benchmarking exercise was part of the bank’s broader strategy to support trade-enabling infrastructure across Africa.
He explained that the initiative was designed not only to showcase modern infrastructure but also to expose participating administrations to the governance systems, operational models and institutional reforms that underpin successful border management.
“Infrastructure is important, but what truly drives performance is an operating model built on accountability, coordination, technology and measurable service standards. Those are the lessons we hope will be replicated across strategic corridors on the continent,” Zanamwe said.
The mission concluded with the signing of a Joint Communiqué committing Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin to establish a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to implement recommendations arising from the visit.
The three customs administrations also pledged to harmonise border procedures, improve digital interoperability, strengthen coordinated risk management systems and invest in continuous personnel development as part of efforts to enhance trade facilitation and regional economic integration under the AfCFTA.
