Nigeria and the Republic of Benin are moving to digitise and streamline cross-border trade through a technology-focused bilateral framework aimed at eliminating bottlenecks and unlocking new economic opportunities across West Africa.
The landmark agreement, reached on Saturday, at the Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances in Cotonou, marks a strategic shift toward leveraging data sharing, system interoperability, and smart logistics to enable frictionless regional trade, the Nigerian Customs says in a statement seen by Technology Times.
The high-level session, attended by Ministers, Customs chiefs, and trade policy experts from both nations, formalises a joint roadmap for tech-enabled border operations, anchored on four core pillars: trade facilitation, enforcement, infrastructure modernisation, and data exchange.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, says the framework reinforces both countries’ commitment to building a digitally interconnected regional trade ecosystem.
“What we have witnessed today is the culmination of 48 hours of intensive technical sessions between Nigeria and Benin Customs. We’ve jointly developed a framework that reflects the shared vision of our Presidents for economic transformation,” Adeniyi adds.
“This agreement signals strong political will from both countries to pursue a progressive and inclusive trade relationship,” Mrs. Oduwole says, referencing the MoU signed by Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Patrice Talon at the recent West African Economic Summit.
She explains that both Presidents have tasked their technical teams to translate political will into actionable digital trade policies that can enhance logistics, reduce bureaucracy, and generate new job opportunities.
“The synergy between the Heads of Customs,” the Nigerian Minister notes, “has resulted in the formation of four thematic working groups covering trade facilitation, enforcement, data sharing, and infrastructure.”
Smart Customs, connected systems, and corridor-based innovation
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, affirms Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to deploying smart border technologies and digital integration tools in support of the new framework.
“What we have witnessed today is the culmination of 48 hours of intensive technical sessions between Nigeria and Benin Customs. We’ve jointly developed a framework that reflects the shared vision of our Presidents for economic transformation,” Adeniyi adds.
The CGC reveals that a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), building on the current framework, is expected by Q1 2026 and will feature tech-enabled corridor-based solutions to streamline transit, transshipment, and real-time monitoring of cargo flows.
“New trade corridors have been identified, and connectivity between Nigeria and Benin’s Customs systems is now active, eliminating paper-based bottlenecks and enabling data-driven oversight,” Adeniyi announces.
He adds that the digital upgrades are especially aimed at removing roadblocks for SMEs and local businesses, which often suffer the most from delays and outdated manual processes.
Port digitalisation, coordinated border management underway
As part of the engagement, both delegations toured the Port of Cotonou to assess opportunities for digital port modernisation, including automation of cargo processing, blockchain-based manifest sharing, and joint inspection protocols.
At the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, officials reviewed the state of coordinated border management, a critical node for deploying integrated surveillance, e-clearance, and trade analytics platforms across both sides.
Adeniyi expresses appreciation to Mrs. Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, Director-General of Benin Customs, for her unwavering collaboration and Benin’s support of Nigeria’s leadership bid at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council in Kinshasa, DRC.
Digital trade pact to anchor regional prosperity
The Nigeria-Benin trade agreement is expected to usher in a new era of tech-enabled trade governance, with the two countries committing to real-time data exchange, joint digital platforms, and transparent trade operations.
The partnership signals a growing trend across Africa where digital transformation is becoming central to regional integration—with Customs automation, AI-powered risk profiling, and API-enabled border control among the tools reshaping the future of trade.
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