THE NIGERIA Customs Service (NCS) and the Benin Republic Customs Administration on Monday inaugurated the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) platform, a joint initiative aimed at improving regional trade efficiency.
The system was unveiled at a press conference held at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, and the Director General of the Benin Customs Administration, Mme Adidjath Hassan Zanouvii.
Mr. Adeniyi stated that the platform was designed to address operational challenges faced by stakeholders, describing it as a resilient solution to bottlenecks in international trade. He noted that SIGMAT has been successfully implemented in seven other countries.
He expressed confidence in the platform’s effectiveness, adding that NCS officers had undergone training to manage the system with support from key stakeholders.
“The SIGMAT platform will enhance cooperation between our two customs administrations and is capable of integrating with Nigeria’s ‘B’ODOGWU’ system,” Adeniyi said. “We are committed to ensuring proper sensitization and seamless implementation to facilitate the movement of goods along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.”
Mme Zanouvii highlighted the platform’s role in tackling cross-border challenges, calling its launch a significant milestone in West Africa’s trade integration and economic transformation.
“This initiative, conceived over a decade ago, aims to digitize and harmonize customs transit operations,” she said. “It will improve visibility of goods in transit, combat fraud, and promote inter-agency collaboration while reducing delays at borders.”
She noted that SIGMAT’s deployment in several ECOWAS member states had been facilitated by the ECOWAS Commission and the German Development Cooperation Agency.
“This system aligns with our goal of modernizing trade processes and adopting regional digital customs standards,” she added. “We will engage stakeholders, including economic operators and government agencies, to ensure its success.”
In a related development, the Comptroller General also inaugurated a new office for the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) and a Senior Officers Mess in Seme, Lagos.
The event was attended by officials from both countries, underscoring their commitment to stronger bilateral trade relations. (NAN)
