By Raji Rasak

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of Benin Republic have inaugurated an Interconnected System for Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) platform, aimed at boosting regional trade.

Mr Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) and the Director General of Benin Customs Administration, Mme Adidjath Hassan Zanouvii, unveiled the system at a news conference held at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post.

Speaking during the inauguration, Adeniyi said the platform was designed to remove some of the challenges faced by operators.

According to him, the system is resilient and will eliminate bottlenecks linked to international trade. It has worked effectively in seven other countries.

He expressed optimism about the platform’s success, saying that officers from the service had been trained to manage the platform with support from critical stakeholders.

“The SIGMAT platform will foster cooperation between the two customs organisations; it has the capacity to integrate with the ‘B’ODOGWU’ system in Nigeria.

“I want to assure stakeholders and my sister agencies that we’ll ensure proper enlightenment and sensitisation about the newly inaugurated platform.

“This platform will facilitate the movement of goods along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor,” he said.

The CGC surrounded by members of Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) during the inauguration of their office in Seme, Lagos

The Director General of the Benin Customs Administration said the implementation of the system would collectively address cross-border issues affecting both customs administrations.

“The SIGMAT connectivity between the two countries is a major milestone in the collective pursuit of seamless trade integration and regional economic transformation across West Africa.

“I am sure you have heard some of the historical context of this project, which aims to digitalise and harmonise customs transit operations across our member states.

“The concept was conceived over a decade ago, and the electronic platform was designed to achieve these objectives. Primarily, we want to improve the visibility of goods in transit.

“We want to combat diversion and fraud along the Nigeria-West corridor and also use the platform to foster inter-agency collaboration between us.

“For our stakeholders, we want to simplify procedures at the borders and, by doing so, reduce delays,” she said.

She said the platform would ensure that trade fostered revenue and prosperity and also encourage trade facilitation between the two countries.

“The implementation has already started with deployments in several ECOWAS member states, with the support and assistance of the ECOWAS Commission and the German Development Cooperation Agency.

“For us, SIGMAT represents our strategic ambition to align with regional digital customs standards and to modernise the globalisation of our trade portfolio.

“We must implement a robust stakeholder engagement strategy to ensure that we include, not only our economic operators, but also other government agencies.

“We look forward in strengthening bilateral communication mechanisms to ensure timely technical engagement between our agencies and institutions,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CGC also unveiled a new Customs Officers Wives Association Office and Senior Officers Mess in Seme, Lagos. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Edith Bolokor/Chioma Ugboma