Power, Scanner Failures Stall Trade At Nigeria’s Borders – NCS

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and its counterparts in Benin Republic and Cameroon have recognized unreliable electrical energy, non-functional cargo scanners, visitors congestion and poor digital connectivity as main obstacles to environment friendly cross-border commerce.

The three nations are intensifying discussions with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on a proposed regional border-modernisation programme aimed toward addressing the infrastructure and operational challenges.

The initiative targets the Mfum-Ekok border hall between Nigeria and Cameroon and the Sèmè-Kraké hall linking Nigeria and Benin, with plans to enhance customs procedures, digital infrastructure, cargo monitoring and coordination amongst border businesses.

However, the NCS mentioned no closing mission value, lending dedication, financing association or implementation contract had been agreed upon.

According to an announcement issued on Sunday by Abdullahi Maiwada, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, the discussions occurred at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on October 2, 2026.

The assembly adopted a benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post in Zimbabwe and technical assessments of the 2 precedence border corridors in West and Central Africa.

The engagement was led by Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and introduced collectively representatives of the customs administrations of Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon, alongside Afreximbank and technical companions.

According to the NCS, the assessments revealed important infrastructure and operational shortcomings that might undermine efforts to facilitate authentic commerce underneath the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The assertion reads partially: “A major component of the engagement was the Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES) designed to facilitate a secure information exchange among Nigeria’s B’ Odogwu platform, Benin’s Webb and Cameroon 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, thereby reducing duplication and improving the predictability of cross-border transactions.

“The receiving Customs administration will remain responsible for validating the information, applying national requirements, conducting risk assessments, and authorising clearance. Although development and technical testing have been undertaken, further country-specific configuration, application programming interface integration, security assurance and pilot acceptance remain necessary before deployment.

“The discussions drew extensively on findings from the July 2026 Beitbridge benchmarking mission and subsequent assessments of the two priority corridors. The Beitbridge experience demonstrated the importance of treating a modern border as an integrated operational ecosystem encompassing traffic segmentation, pre-arrival processing, risk-based controls, cargo scanning, transit monitoring, electronic payments, information technology command centres, utilities, maintenance and effective governance.

“At Mfum- Ekok, the assessment identified gaps in dependable power supply, connectivity, information technology equipment, cybersecurity, technical support, scanner commissioning and coordinated single-stop processing,” it acknowledged.

The NCS defined that the Sèmè-Kraké hall faces comparable challenges, together with non-functional cargo-scanning and weighing amenities, visitors congestion, inconsistent working hours, incomplete joint customs procedures and unresolved tasks for sustaining shared infrastructure.

The assertion additional reads: “At Sèmè-Kraké, key challenges included incomplete joint procedures and live data exchange, nonfunctional cargo-scanning and weighing facilities, unreliable electricity, traffic congestion, inconsistent operating hours and unresolved responsibilities for maintaining shared infrastructure.

“These findings underscore the need to address immediate operational deficiencies alongside a properly assessed and costed long-term modernisation programme.

“To advance the initiative, Afreximbank outlined a proposed two-stage approach beginning with independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at the two border posts, followed by the development of separate bankable project packages for the Nigeria± Benin and Nigeria± Cameroon corridors.

“The proposed project-preparation process would cover transaction advisory services, legal due diligence, financial modelling and the identification of appropriate implementation and financing arrangements. The Bank also outlined the potential use of its Project Preparation Facility, while technical partners, TMP and Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, expressed willingness in principle to consider self-financing the preparatory work.

“Although no final project cost, lending commitment, borrower designation, financing arrangement or implementation contract was established, participants agreed on the importance of direct site inspections, designated technical focal points, a clear one-, three- and six-month implementation roadmap and a dated action matrix to guide subsequent engagement.

“The Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team, reaffirms the commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, modernising border operations and facilitating legitimate trade in line with the objectives of AfCFTA.

“The Service will continue to engage with its counterparts in Benin and Cameroon, Afreximbank and relevant technical partners to advance the required assessments, clarify projectpreparation arrangements and develop practical, sustainable solutions for the two border corridors to promote more efficient cross-border procedures, improve cargo visibility, strengthen coordinated border management and support the development of an integrated African trading environment, the statement added.”