BY SAM OTUONYE
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has emphasised the need for interoperable customs systems across Africa, describing it as a critical requirement for the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Customs Modernisation Project.
In a statement on Sunday, July 5, 2026, Adeniyi made this known in Lagos during the signing of a 20-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement between the AfCFTA Secretariat and Bergmans Security to initiate the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the Digital Trade Forum 2026.
The CGC described the lack of harmonised technology among African Customs administrations as a major impediment to the implementation of the continental trade agreement.
“We are indeed delighted because one of the major obstacles that we have faced in this journey of implementation of AfCFTA is the interoperability of our systems. All the Customs administrations cannot operate at the same level, but when we have interoperability, it becomes easier for us all to hook up to one system and get trade facilitation done,” Adeniyi said.
Adeniyi also welcomed the selection of Bergmans Security to drive the initiative, describing it as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s customs modernisation journey and a recognition of the country’s digital transformation efforts. “We are delighted that it is a Nigerian company that has been given this platform to extend what they have been doing to the rest of Africa and for us to achieve trade facilitation and the implementation of the AfCFTA,” he stated.
Earlier, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, said the Secretariat adopted Nigeria’s customs modernisation model after observing the country’s success in deploying digital technologies that have enhanced revenue collection and improved operational efficiency.
“Today, as we speak Nigeria is beneffiting from the deployment of these technologies. And from our point of view, the Continent has a lot to gain from the model that was introduced here in Nigeria. So that’s why we signed the MOU today. We believe that the partnership with Bergaman Security will enable us to reach our objective of creating a continental, modern, interoperable Customs systems that will ensure that all our economic operators benefit from expanded market,” Mene noted.
The AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project is expected to strengthen customs cooperation among member states through harmonised digital platforms, enhance trade facilitation, optimise revenue collection, and accelerate the full implementation of the AfCFTA by creating a more efficient and integrated continental trading environment.
