RismadarVoice Reporters, July 29, 2026
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside the customs administrations of Benin and Cameroon, has reaffirmed its commitment to coordinated border management and regional trade integration 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, Cameroon Customs Director-General, Fongod Nuvaga, Benin Customs Director-General, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Acting Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Lonto Ndlovu, and other stakeholders.
According to reports, the visit formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking during the adoption of a Joint Communiqué, Comptroller-General Adeniyi described the mission as an opportunity for African customs administrations to move from policy discussions to practical implementation of modern border management systems.
He said the experiences from the Beitbridge and Chirundu border posts highlighted the importance of coordinated institutions, digital integration, accountability and professional capacity in improving trade facilitation.
According to him, the lessons from Zimbabwe will help Nigeria strengthen border security, improve trade efficiency and promote economic growth through more effective border management.
During the mission, delegates participated in technical sessions, facility tours and executive briefings on the Beitbridge modernisation model, including its financing, operational framework, revenue management system and coordinated border governance structure.
The team also inspected cargo processing facilities, freight terminals, scanning operations, traffic management systems and integrated ICT infrastructure supporting seamless border operations.
The Joint Communiqué identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor between Nigeria andthe Benin Republic, as well as the Mfum-Ekok corridor linking Nigeria and Cameroon, as strategic trade routes that would benefit from coordinated border management and One-Stop Border Post arrangements.
Cameroon Customs Director-General, Fongod Nuvaga, called for stronger regional cooperation to eliminate procedural bottlenecks while maintaining effective border controls, noting that closer collaboration would enable African countries to maximise opportunities under the AFCFTA.
Similarly, Benin Customs Director-General, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, said the Beitbridge model provides practical lessons for improving border efficiency in West Africa through harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management and stronger institutional partnerships.
Also speaking, Afreximbank’s Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, said the benchmarking exercise was designed to expose participating countries to the governance structures, operational models and institutional reforms that have made Beitbridge one of Africa’s most efficient border posts. He stressed that technology, accountability, coordination and measurable service standards are critical to achieving sustainable border reforms.
The mission said Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon signed a Joint Communiqué committing the three countries to establish a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to implement the recommendations from the visit.
The customs administrations also pledged to harmonise border procedures, strengthen digital interoperability, improve coordinated risk management and invest in personnel development to enhance regional trade facilitation.
