CUSTOMS CG LAUNCHES SIGMAT DIGITAL STANDARD @ SEME-KRAKE JOINT BORDER; VOWS TO DEPLOY SYSTEM TO IDIROKO, CHIKANDA & KATSINA CORRIDORS
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
The Interconnected System for the management of Goods in transit (SIGMAT) was today launched at the Seme-Krake Joint border.
Customs Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, said the project, an ECOWAS initiative, aimed at digitalising and harmonizing customs transit operations across member states will soon be deployed to Idiroko, Chikanda and katsina borders.
Adeniyi stated that with the project, there will be;
* improved visibility of goods in transit
* combating diversion and fraud along corridors
* enhance inter-agency coordination
* simplify border procedures and reduce delays
* facilitate trade while securing state revenue.
He noted that implementation of the project began with pilot deployments in countries such as, Burkina Faso, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Ghana and Togo with the support of the ECOWAS Commission and German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
The customs Helmsman stressed that for us in Nigeria, SIGMAT reflects our strategic ambition to align with regional digital customs standards and drive the modernization of trade corridors.
Current Status of SIGMAT Implementation and Deployment. I am pleased to report that Nigeria Customs Service has completed all technical, operational, and policy prerequisites for SIGMAT deployment. Highlights of our readiness
include:
• Development of a dedicated SIGMAT application, built by our in-house technical
team
• Integration of SIGMAT with our Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu
• Establishment of connectivity (secure VPN and ActiveMQ messaging infrastructure) with Benin
• Deployment of the application at the SEME Area Command as the pilot corridor
• Technical testing and validation of message exchange protocols between Nigeria and the Benin Republic
• Successful connectivity to the ECOWAS eHub, hosted in Lomé, Togo, which acts as
the regional node for all SIGMAT communications
Achievements
Permit me to highlight some of the key achievements so far:
• Development of a standalone SIGMAT application tailored for Nigeria’s customs
landscape
• Successful testing of real-time transit message exchange between Nigeria and
Benin
• Mapping and harmonisation of entry/exit itineraries at the Seme-Krake border
• Establishment of direct connectivity to the ECOWAS eHub, ensuring regional
interoperability
• Strengthened collaboration with the Benin Customs Administration through
multiple bilateral technical meetings
These milestones not only reflect Nigeria’s technical capacity but also our unwavering
commitment to regional integration.
Challenges
Despite these successes, we must acknowledge certain challenges that have delayed full rollout
• Deployment of new clearance applications of both Nigeria Customs Service and the Benin Customs Administration
• Delays in technical feedback from our partner administration in Benin at critical
stages of implementation
• Varying levels of automation and ICT maturity across other Nigeria-Benin border
posts, which may limit SIGMAT expansion beyond Seme-Krake in the short term
• The need for more robust stakeholder sensitisation and training, especially among transporters, clearing agents, and border agencies
• Language barrier especially during the virtual and physical technical meetings
• Limited operational awareness among some border communities and transit
corridor stakeholders
The Way Forward
Looking ahead, the Nigeria Customs Service proposes the following strategies:
• Expand SIGMAT deployment to additional border locations (e.g., Idiroko, Chikanda, and Katsina) with support from ECOWAS and national partners
• Strengthen bilateral communication mechanisms to ensure timely technical
engagement between Nigeria and Benin
• Collaborate with ECOWAS and GIZ on capacity building programmes for customs
officers, private sector actors, and relevant MDAs
• Establish a joint SIGMAT Monitoring Taskforce to track system uptime, message
flow, and procedural compliance
• Continue engagement with the ECOWAS SIGMAT Steering Committee to share
lessons learned and support other member states in their implementation journey.
NCS Mandate on SIGMAT
We take this opportunity to reaffirm Nigeria’s full support for the broader ECOWAS digital trade facilitation agenda, including:
• The expansion of SIGMAT to multimodal transport corridors (seaports, airports,
and inland container depots)
• Alignment of SIGMAT data with emerging platforms such as the ECOWAS Regional
Trade and Transport Observatory (RTTO)
• Collaboration on cross-border digital identity and risk profiling for compliant
traders
• Harmonisation of national legislation to support the legal framework for transit
under the SIGMAT regime
Closing
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, today’s launch is more than a technical achievement; it is a powerful demonstration of regional solidarity and institutional leadership. Let us harness the momentum of this milestone to transform our trade corridors into engines of prosperity, security, and opportunity for the people of West Africa.
I thank the ECOWAS Commission, the Benin Customs Administration, the GIZ Development Cooperation, and all our stakeholders for their continued partnership and support.
On behalf of the Nigeria Customs Service, I declare the SIGMAT Connectivity between
Nigeria and the Republic of Benin officially launched.