By Sandra Chukwunyere
In a significant step toward regional economic integration and enhanced Customs efficiency, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially launched the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) connectivity with the Republic of Benin.
The launch ceremony was held at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post and attended by dignitaries from both nations, the ECOWAS Commission, and development partners on Monday.
The Comptroller-General of Customs,(CGC) Adewale Adeniyi MFR who delivered the keynote address,
described the initiative as a major milestone in West Africa’s collective quest for seamless trade integration and digital modernization of Customs procedures.
” SIGMAT, a flagship project of ECOWAS, aims to digitize and harmonize Customs transit operations across member states. The system enhances the visibility of goods in transit, combats fraud, streamlines border procedures, and strengthens inter-agency coordination.
“Nigeria’s preparedness for the launch includes the development of a dedicated SIGMAT application by the NCS technical team, integration with the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu Application), secure connectivity with Benin, and successful message exchanges through the ECOWAS eHub hosted in Togo”
Key achievements highlighted by the CGC include successful technical testing of real-time message exchange between Nigeria and Benin, mapping and harmonization of entry/exit points at the Seme-Krake border, and enhanced collaboration between the Nigeria and Benin customs administrations. These developments demonstrate the potential of SIGMAT to improve customs operations and trade facilitation in the region.
However, Adeniyi acknowledged challenges such as delays in technical feedback, variations in ICT maturity at other border posts, language barriers, and the need for broader stakeholder sensitization. To consolidate progress, the NCS proposed expanding SIGMAT deployment to additional border locations, strengthening bilateral technical engagement, and collaborating on capacity-building efforts with ECOWAS and GIZ.
The Customs boss also plans to create a joint monitoring task force to ensure the effective implementation of SIGMAT. This will help to address any challenges that may arise and ensure that the system operates smoothly.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS digital trade facilitation and expressed optimism about the platform’s expansion to include multimodal transport corridors such as seaports and airports.
“The launch of SIGMAT connectivity marks a new era of customs cooperation and regional trade facilitation in West Africa. With its potential to improve Customs operations, reduce trade costs, and enhance economic integration, SIGMAT is a significant step toward achieving the ECOWAS vision of a single market”
The event concluded with the official declaration of the SIGMAT connectivity launch, symbolizing a new era of cooperation and trade facilitation in the region.
