By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has identified interoperability among African customs systems as the cornerstone for the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Customs Modernisation Project.
Adeniyi made the declaration in Lagos during the signing of a 20-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement between the AfCFTA Secretariat and Bergmans Security to commence the continent-wide Customs Modernisation Project. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Digital Trade Forum 2026.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Customs boss described the absence of harmonised digital platforms among African Customs administrations as one of the greatest obstacles to seamless continental trade.
“One of the major obstacles that we have faced in the implementation of AfCFTA is the interoperability of our systems. While all Customs administrations may not operate at the same level technologically, interoperability will allow us to connect through a common platform and facilitate trade more efficiently,” Adeniyi said.
He also hailed the appointment of Bergmans Security to spearhead the initiative, describing it as a landmark achievement for Nigeria and a testament to the country’s strides in customs digitalisation.
“We are delighted that a Nigerian company has been entrusted with this responsibility to extend its expertise across Africa, helping to drive trade facilitation and the successful implementation of the AfCFTA,” he added.
Earlier, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, revealed that the Secretariat adopted Nigeria’s customs modernisation model after witnessing the country’s success in deploying digital technologies that have significantly improved revenue collection and operational efficiency.
According to Mene, the partnership with Bergmans Security represents a major step toward building a unified customs system for the continent.
“Nigeria is already benefiting from these technologies, and from our perspective, Africa has much to gain from this model.
That is why we signed this agreement today. We believe our partnership with Bergmans Security will help us achieve our objective of creating a continental, modern, and interoperable customs system that ensures all economic operators benefit from an expanded African market,” he stated.
The AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project is expected to enhance customs cooperation among member states through harmonised digital platforms, improve trade facilitation, optimise revenue collection, and accelerate the full implementation of the continental free trade agreement by creating a more integrated and efficient trading environment across Africa.
