Joyce Mmereole Okoli
In a significant step towards curbing cross-border fraud and boosting regional trade, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Benin Republic Customs Administration on Monday officially launched the deployment of the SIGMAT platform at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post.
The SIGMAT (Système Interconnecté de Gestion des Marchandises en Transit) system is designed to interconnect customs operations and provide real-time visibility of goods in transit along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. It marks a key advancement in the digitalization and harmonization of customs procedures between both nations.
Speaking at the launch, Comptroller General of Customs, Nigeria, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, emphasized that SIGMAT will significantly address issues of diversion, smuggling, and fraud that have plagued the corridor for years.
“Primarily, we want to improve the visibility of goods in transit and combat diversion and fraud along the Abidjan-Lagos Highway Corridor,” Adeniyi stated. “We also aim to simplify border procedures and reduce delays for stakeholders, while enhancing inter-agency collaboration between our two countries.”
The CG added that the SIGMAT deployment aligns with Nigeria’s broader strategy to modernize its trade systems in line with regional digital customs standards. He revealed plans to expand the system’s deployment to other strategic border points, such as Idiroko.
Adediyi noted, “We want to ensure that trade fosters revenue and prosperity. Strengthening bilateral communication mechanisms and ensuring timely technical engagements between our agencies is now a top priority.”
Also speaking at the event, Director General of Benin Republic Customs, Mrs. Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, praised the initiative as a critical milestone in the fight against customs-related fraud and a boost for intra-regional trade.
“The SIGMAT platform will go a long way in enhancing cooperation and interoperability between our customs services. It will facilitate the movement of goods, strengthen revenue collection, and enhance trade facilitation,” she said.
Zanouvi added that with Benin and Côte d’Ivoire already integrated into the SIGMAT system, the platform will streamline the movement of goods from Abidjan through Benin and into Nigeria and vice versa.