Lagos: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of Benin Republic have inaugurated the Interconnected System for Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) platform, aimed at boosting regional trade. Mr Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), and Mme Adidjath Hassan Zanouvii, Director General of Benin Customs Administration, unveiled the system at a news conference held at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the SIGMAT platform is designed to tackle the challenges faced by trade operators and streamline cross-border operations. Mr. Adeniyi highlighted the system's resilience and its success in eliminating bottlenecks linked to international trade in seven other countries. He emphasized the training provided to customs officers to manage the platform, supported by critical stakeholders, and expressed optimism about its success in fostering cooperation between the two customs organizations.
The Director General of Benin Customs Administration, Mme Zanouvii, emphasized the platform's role in addressing cross-border issues affecting both customs administrations. She described the SIGMAT connectivity as a major milestone in the pursuit of seamless trade integration and regional economic transformation across West Africa. Mme Zanouvii outlined the project's historical context and objectives to digitalize and harmonize customs transit operations across member states.
The platform aims to improve the visibility of goods in transit, combat diversion and fraud, and foster inter-agency collaboration. Mme Zanouvii also stressed the importance of simplifying border procedures to reduce delays and ensure that trade fosters revenue and prosperity while facilitating trade between the two countries.
The deployment of the platform has already commenced in several ECOWAS member states with support from the ECOWAS Commission and the German Development Cooperation Agency. Mme Zanouvii underscored the strategic ambition of aligning with regional digital customs standards and modernizing the global trade portfolio. She emphasized the importance of robust stakeholder engagement, including economic operators and other government agencies, to enhance bilateral communication mechanisms for timely technical engagement.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the CGC also inaugurated a new Customs Officers Wives Association Office and Senior Officers Mess in Seme, Lagos.