As Health, Recreational Facilities, COWA Complex is Launched

Committed to trade facilitation and economic gains, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of Benin Republic have launched a new interconnectivity system known as Sigmat platform, intended to boost regional trade between Benin Republic and other other countries on that corridor.

Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi and the Director General of Benin Customs Administration, Mme. Adidjath Hassan Zanouvii, launched the SIGMAT system  at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post recently

During the ceremony the NIgerian Customs Boss informed stakeholders that the implementation of the Sigmat platform is designed to connect both customs and eliminate challenges and ease trade along the Benin Corridor.

Adeniyi was emphatic that the Sigmat platform will foster cooperation between the two customs organizations with the capacity to integrate with the B’Odogwu system already running in Nigeria even as the deployment of Sigmat in other border stations in such as  Idiroko, Chikanda and other Commands is being worked on.

He assured stakeholders and other government agencies that the service will ensure proper enlightenment and sensitization about the newly deployed platform for further implementation, noting that it will facilitate the movement of goods along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.

He also expressed optimism about the deployment of Sigmat in other border stations in Nigeria, including Idiroko, Chikanda border commands.

Elaborating further, the CGC said “I am sure you have heard some of the historical context of this project, which aims to  strengthen and harmonize customs transit operations across our member states. The concept was conceived over a decade ago, and the electronic platform was designed to achieve these objectives. Primarily, we want to improve the visibility of goods in transit.

“We want to combat diversion and fraud along the Nigeria-West corridor. We also want to use the platform to foster inter-agency coordination and collaboration between us. For our stakeholders, we want to simplify procedures at the borders and, by doing so, reduce delays.

“Most importantly, we want to ensure that trade fosters revenue and prosperity. We want to enhance trade facilitation between our two countries. Of course, implementation has already started with deployments in several ECOWAS member states, such as Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, and Togo, with the support and assistance of the ECOWAS Commission and the German Development Cooperation Agency.

“For us in Nigeria, SIGMAT represents our strategic ambition to align with regional digital customs standards and to modernize the globalization of our trade portfolio. We will be hearing about the current state of SIGMAT in the next few hours, possibly during the presentation by the technical team. We have some achievements to highlight.

“These include the development of SIGMAT, which is currently a standalone system tailored for the Nigerian customs landscape; the successful testing of real-time transit message exchange between Nigeria and our colleagues in Benin Republic; the marking and anonymization of entry and exit itineraries at this particular border station; the establishment of direct connectivity to the ECOWAS electronic hub, ensuring regional interoperability; and strengthened collaboration between our customs administrations through various technical meetings and consultations held over the past month.

“In the process, we have encountered several challenges, which I hope the technical team will address during their presentation. The most important challenge is the need for more extensive training and sensitization of our stakeholders.

“We must implement a robust stakeholder engagement strategy to ensure that we include not only our economic operators but also other government agencies involved in this process.

“Looking ahead, the Nigerian Customs Service sees many opportunities. We believe that in the near future, we will be able to expand SIGMAT deployments to additional border locations, particularly places like Ndiru, Chikanga, and the new facility planned for Sanya. We look forward to strengthening bilateral communication mechanisms to ensure timely technical engagement between our agencies and institutions.

“A very important priority is to collaborate with JIZ and ECOWAS on capacity-building programs and stakeholder sensitization. As we deploy these pilots, we also plan to establish a task force responsible for monitoring deployments, promoting successes, and addressing challenges.

“For governance purposes, we will continue to engage with the ECOWAS SIGMAT steering committee to share lessons learned and support other members in their implementation journeys.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, today’s launch is more than just a technical achievement. It is a powerful demonstration of rigorous legality and institutional leadership. I urge us all to join in making this milestone a transformative step to turn our trade corridors into engines of prosperity, security, and opportunity for the people of West Africa.

“Let us remind ourselves that elaborate buildings and infrastructure like the one we are jointly occupying will not, on their own, facilitate trade, harmonize processes, interconnect systems, or enhance our collaborative spirit to address issues between us,” she explained.

On her part, Mme. Adidjath Hassan Zanouvii stated that the implementation of the system will collectively address cross-border issues affecting both customs administrations.

She added that the Sigmat connectivity between the two countries marks a major milestone in the collective pursuit of seamless trade integration and regional economic transformation, across West Africa.

Stakeholders and traders in Seme are elated that SIGMAT could stimulate and boost economic activities again at the border station.

Health Facilities

To ensure that officers and men of the Nigeria Customs working at the border station of Seme and others are healthy and fit for the Service, the CGC used the opportunity of the SIGMAT activation to launch a modern officers’ mess, Gym house and a Customs Officers Wives Association, COWA, comlex at the Seme Customs Command.

The CGC implored the officers to put the facilities to good use and maximize their utilization for improved Service operations at Seme.