By Oluwakemi Kindness
Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon have agreed to establish a trilateral committee to drive coordinated border reforms aimed at boosting trade, security and regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The agreement was reached after a five-day benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post between Zimbabwe and South Africa, where customs leaders studied one of Africa’s most successful border modernisation models.
The mission brought together the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, Director-General of Cameroon Customs, Fongod Nuvaga, Director-General of Benin Customs, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, officials of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), and other stakeholders.
A statrment in Tuesday by Abdulahi Maiwada, Customs spokesperson says the mission organised with the support of Afreximbank, focused on strengthening coordinated border management and expanding intra-African trade.
Speaking after the adoption of a Joint Communiqué, Nigeria Customs boss Adewale Adeniyi said the exercise showed that successful border reforms depend on strong institutions, digital integration and coordinated leadership, not infrastructure alone.
He said the lessons from Beitbridge would help Nigeria and its regional partners improve trade facilitation, border security and economic growth.
During the mission, participants toured freight terminals, cargo processing centres, scanning facilities and integrated ICT systems that support faster and more efficient border operations.
The Joint Communiqué identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor between Nigeria and Benin and the Mfum-Ekok corridor linking Nigeria and Cameroon as priority routes for coordinated border management and future One-Stop Border Posts.
Cameroon Customs Director-General Fongod Nuvaga said stronger regional cooperation would remove trade bottlenecks while maintaining effective border controls.
His Benin counterpart, Colonel Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou, said harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management and stronger institutional partnerships are essential for seamless trade across West Africa.
Afreximbank’s Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Dr Gainmore Zanamwe, said the mission exposed participating countries to the governance systems and operational models behind successful modern border posts.
The mission ended with Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon signing a Joint Communiqué establishing a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to implement the recommendations.
The three countries also committed to harmonised customs procedures, digital interoperability, coordinated risk management and continued investment in border personnel development.
