In a bid to enhance regional trade and streamline cross-border operations, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of Benin Republic have launched the Interconnected System for Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) platform. The system was inaugurated on Monday at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post.
The event was attended by top officials from both countries, including Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) in Nigeria, and Mme Adidjath Hassan Zanouvii, Director General of the Benin Customs Administration. Adeniyi highlighted the platform’s potential to address challenges faced by operators in the international trade sector, aiming to eliminate bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
“This platform is resilient and has worked effectively in seven other countries,” said Adeniyi. He further explained that the SIGMAT system would foster better cooperation between Nigeria and Benin’s customs agencies, while also integrating with Nigeria’s ‘B’ODOGWU’ system. The platform is expected to improve the movement of goods along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, facilitating smoother trade between the two countries.
Mme Zanouvii emphasized that the SIGMAT platform is a milestone in the collective effort to transform regional trade in West Africa. She pointed out that the system would address issues such as fraud and diversion of goods, and improve visibility for goods in transit. It is designed to simplify border procedures, reduce delays, and foster stronger collaboration between the customs administrations of Nigeria and Benin.
“This system will allow us to combat cross-border fraud and promote easier, more transparent trade,” said Zanouvii. “The SIGMAT platform is part of our broader regional ambition to digitalize and harmonize customs operations within ECOWAS.”
The project has already seen deployments across several ECOWAS member states, with support from the ECOWAS Commission and the German Development Cooperation Agency.
As part of the inauguration, Adeniyi also unveiled new offices for the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) and a Senior Officers Mess in Seme, Lagos, marking another step towards improving the welfare of customs personnel.
