Trade dealings between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin would no longer be impeded by bottlenecks following a unique agreement by both countries to ensure unrestricted access. 

A two-day working visit to Nigeria by Alain Hinkati, who is the Director-General of Benin’s customs service has made sure of this.

Under the past president, Muhammadu Buhari, the western borders of Nigeria had to be closed so as to curb the illicit flow of foreign rice into the country. The aftermath of this was unwanted pressure on Benin’s economy which subsequently invited a tit-or-tat approach. In this situation, Nigeria-bound cargoes entering from Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo faced difficulties passing through Benin Republic. All these happened within a three-year period spanning 2019 to 2021.

Now, under a new government of renewed hope, there appears to be fast changes on the horizon which would involve the application of IT systems.

The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, communicated this in Abuja on Tuesday, making sure to note that the progress made so far has been a long time coming.

“It is with profound gratitude that I recall our previous visit to our esteemed counterparts in Benin, where fruitful discussions and resolutions were made; forging a path towards more efficient and effective customs practices.

“Today, I am honoured to highlight some of the remarkable progress we have made since that visit, as well as the commitment to further solidify these gains.

“On promotion of ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the relevant department within the NCS has been entrusted with the task of reviewing the current impediments to the scheme to chart practical ways forward.

“Our objective remains steadfast; to stimulate economic growth, foster regional integration and nurture prosperity among our nations,” says the Acting Comptoller General.

Keeping track of car entries

What has long been a point of concern for the Nigerian side is the unchecked arrival of imported automobiles. This apparently has to be stopped — that is why there is an ongoing partnership with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to seal up loopholes.

According to Adeniyi, sorting this out is nearing a conclusion.

“We are currently in the final stages of integrating our IT systems with the Federal Road Safety to curb illegal entry of vehicles.

“This integration will enhance our ability to monitor and regulate cross-border vehicle movements more effectively.”

Away but at home

Nigeria’s integration into the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), in collaboration with other West African nations can ensure that all the objectives are met.

When this has been realised, it “promises to further streamline our transit operations and improve regional trade dynamics”, the acting customs boss added.

Alain Hikanti wasn’t silent throughout the telling of aspirations by his Nigerian host. Now, it was time for him to make commitments that would gladden the hearts of overburdened importers. This relates to providing avenues on his own turf.

It involves, according to Hikanti, “working towards having a Nigeria clearing ground in the Republic of Benin to make importation of goods through our borders more seamless.”

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.