The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional border management and promoting intra-African trade following a five-day benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The mission brought together the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, his counterparts from Cameroon and Benin, senior officials of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), and representatives of the private sector.
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It was organised with the support of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to advance coordinated border management under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking during the adoption of a Joint Communiqué on Monday, Adeniyi described the exercise as an opportunity for African customs administrations to move beyond policy discussions and embrace practical reforms that improve border operations.
“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,” Adeniyi said.
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He added that the experience gained from the Beitbridge and Chirundu border posts would guide efforts to strengthen trade facilitation, security and economic growth across the region.
The delegation participated in technical sessions, executive briefings and facility tours showcasing the Beitbridge border concession model.
Officials examined freight terminals, cargo processing centres, scanning facilities, traffic management systems and integrated information technology infrastructure that support efficient border operations.
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The Joint Communiqué signed at the end of the mission identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor between Nigeria and Benin Republic and the Mfum-Ekok corridor linking Nigeria and Cameroon as priority routes for the implementation of coordinated border management and One-Stop Border Post arrangements.
Cameroon Customs Director-General, Fongod Nuvaga, stressed the need for stronger collaboration among customs administrations to eliminate unnecessary trade barriers while safeguarding border security.
“Customs administrations must work together to remove procedural bottlenecks that hinder legitimate trade while maintaining effective border controls. Stronger regional cooperation will help African countries maximise the opportunities created by the AfCFTA,” he said.
Benin Customs Director-General, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, said the Beitbridge model provides practical lessons for improving border efficiency across West Africa.
“Harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management systems and stronger institutional partnerships will be critical to achieving seamless trade movement across regional corridors,” Aboudou stated.
Also speaking, Afreximbank’s Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, said the initiative was designed to expose participating countries to the governance and operational systems that have made Beitbridge one of Africa’s most efficient border posts.
“Infrastructure is important, but what truly drives performance is an operating model built on accountability, coordination, technology and measurable service standards,” Zanamwe said.
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The mission ended with Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin signing a Joint Communiqué establishing a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to oversee implementation of the recommendations.
The three customs administrations also pledged to harmonise border procedures, strengthen digital integration, coordinate risk management and invest in personnel development to improve trade across the region.
