Nigeria , Benin Launch SIGMAT Connectivity To Boost Cross-Border Trade

Nigeria , Benin Launch SIGMAT Connectivity To Boost Cross-Border Trade

R-L SEME Customs Area Controller,Dr.Ben Oramalugo, Comptroller General of Customs,Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR,and Director General Benon

By Frank Odinukaeze

In a landmark step toward enhancing regional trade and customs efficiency, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially launched the SIGMAT connectivity with the Republic of Benin. The event, held at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post from May 19 to 21, marked the commencement of real-time, digital customs transit communication between the two neighboring nations.

Addressing a distinguished gathering of government officials, customs authorities, technical experts, and private sector stakeholders, Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, declared the connectivity officially launched, emphasizing its significance for West Africa’s regional integration.

The Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) is a flagship initiative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It is designed to harmonize and digitalize customs procedures across member states, reduce transit fraud, streamline cross-border operations, and facilitate trade.

“This launch is more than a technical milestone. It is a powerful demonstration of regional solidarity and institutional leadership,” Adeniyi stated.
Nigeria’s deployment of SIGMAT represents a significant stride in aligning with ECOWAS digital customs standards. Key achievements highlighted during the event include:

The development of a customized SIGMAT application by the NCS in-house technical team

Full integration with Nigeria’s Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu)

Secure connectivity with Benin Customs and the ECOWAS regional eHub in Lomé, Togo

Successful testing and validation of cross-border transit message exchange

These efforts reflect both Nigeria’s technical capacity and commitment to a more seamless and secure trade environment in West Africa.
Despite notable progress, the Comptroller-General acknowledged challenges in the deployment process. These include delays in clearance application rollouts, varying ICT maturity across border posts, language barriers, and limited awareness among some stakeholders.

To address these hurdles, the NCS outlined forward-looking strategies including expanded deployment to other border locations, capacity-building programs with support from ECOWAS and GIZ, and the creation of a joint SIGMAT Monitoring Taskforce.
The NCS reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for expanding SIGMAT across multimodal transport corridors, integrating it with platforms like the ECOWAS Regional Trade and Transport Observatory, and harmonizing national legislation to support the transit framework.

In his closing remarks, Adeniyi thanked ECOWAS, the Benin Customs Administration, GIZ, and all partners involved. “Let us harness the momentum of this milestone to transform our trade corridors into engines of prosperity, security, and opportunity for the people of West Africa,” he said.

The launch event positions Nigeria and Benin as key players in the future of digital customs cooperation in the region, setting a precedent for other ECOWAS member states to follow.
In her speech at the event Director General of SEME Customs,Adidjat Hassan Zanouvi, expressed confident that SIGMAT project would great enhance and facilitate trade between the two neighbouring countries