In a landmark move aimed at fostering regional integration and enhancing customs efficiency, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially launched the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) in collaboration with the Republic of Benin. The launch ceremony, held at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, was attended by representatives from both countries, officials of the ECOWAS Commission, and development partners.
Delivering the keynote address, the Comptroller-General of Customs described the initiative as a significant milestone in West Africa’s collective efforts to implement seamless trade integration and to digitize customs procedures. He emphasized that SIGMAT is a flagship project of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is designed to digitize and harmonize customs transit operations across member states. The system is expected to enhance the visibility of goods in transit, reduce opportunities for fraud, streamline border procedures, and strengthen coordination among various border management agencies.
The Comptroller-General noted that Nigeria’s readiness for SIGMAT implementation included the development of a dedicated SIGMAT application by the NCS technical team and its integration with the Unified Customs Management System (popularly known as the B’Odogwu Application). In addition, secure system connectivity was established with the Benin Republic, and successful real-time message exchanges were conducted via the ECOWAS eHub hosted in Togo. These advancements reflect the collaborative efforts and technical capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He highlighted that technical testing of the message exchange with Benin was successful and that entry and exit points at the Seme-Krake border had been effectively mapped and harmonized to support the SIGMAT protocol. He further praised the improved cooperation between the customs administrations of Nigeria and Benin, describing it as a model for regional customs engagement.
Despite these achievements, the CGC acknowledged certain challenges in the process, including delays in receiving technical feedback, disparities in ICT infrastructure and maturity levels at other border posts, language barriers, and the need for further sensitization of stakeholders along the corridor.
To build on the current progress, the Nigeria Customs Service proposed several steps moving forward. These include extending SIGMAT deployment to other strategic border locations such as Idiroko, Chikanda, and Katsina. He also recommended the strengthening of bilateral technical engagement, the creation of a joint monitoring task force, and greater collaboration on training and capacity-building efforts with support from ECOWAS and development partner GIZ.
The Comptroller-General reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the broader vision of ECOWAS digital trade facilitation and expressed optimism about future expansion of SIGMAT to multimodal transport corridors, including seaports and airports.
The launch ceremony ended with the official declaration of SIGMAT connectivity operational between Nigeria and Benin, marking the beginning of a new era in customs cooperation and regional trade facilitation in West Africa.