Nigeria, Benin Launch SIGMAT to Boost Cross-Border Trade
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of Benin Republic have jointly launched the “Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit” (SIGMAT) platform, a flagship initiative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and digital system designed to boost regional trade and economy, and eliminate bottlenecks linked to international trade
The development was announced at a joint ceremony on Monday at the Seme-Krake Land Border post.
The event was attended by Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs in Nigeria, Mme Adidjath Hassan Zanouvi, Director General of Benin Customs Administration as well as Dr Omar Alieu Touray who was represented by the Director of Trade.
The platform’s launch marks a significant milestone in the collective pursuit of seamless trade integration and regional economic transformation across West Africa.
The SIGMAT platform aims to improve the visibility of goods in transit, combat diversion and fraud, and foster inter-agency coordination and collaboration. The platform has already been deployed in seven other countries along the corridor, including Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, and Togo. The SIGMAT platform will simplify procedures at borders, reduce delays, and enhance trade facilitation between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs said, “The SIGMAT platform will foster cooperation between the two customs organizations and has the capacity to integrate with the B’ODOGWU system in Nigeria.”
According to him, “SIGMAT which was conceived over a decade ago was designed to improve visibility of goods in transit, combat diversion and fraud along corridors, enhance inter-agency coordination, simplify border procedures and reduce delays as well as facilitate trade while securing state revenue”.
Adeniyi who noted that NCS has completed all technical, operational, and policy prerequisites for SIGMAT deployment stresses Nigeria Customs readiness to develop a dedicated SIGMAT application, built by Customs in-house technical team, integration of SIGMAT with the newly introduced Unified Customs Management System (otherwise called B’Odogwu Application) Establishment of connectivity with Benin, and deployment of the application at the Seme Area Command as the pilot corridor.
Adidjath Hassan Zanouvii, Director General of Benin Customs Administration noted: “Today’s launch is more than just a technical achievement. It is a powerful demonstration of rigorous legality and institutional leadership.”
SIGMAT’s launch is expected to have a positive impact on regional trade, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of customs operations and promoting economic growth in West Africa .
