From right: Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , MFR, and the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, during the signing of a 20-year Public-Private Partnership PPP, agreement between the AfCFTA Secretariat and Bergmans Security.

About one year into the take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has warned that the continued absence of a harmonised Customs trade systems across the continent will continue to pose huge challenges to the effective implementation of the new trade regime, which was designed to eliminate all encumbrances to free trade within the region.

Speaking in Lagos shortly after 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 Comptroller General noted that there was urgent need to adopt interoperable Customs systems across the continent. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the Digital Trade Forum 2026, which held in Lagos.

The Comptroller General further noted that there was urgent need to adopt interoperable Customs systems across the continent, which he insists, remains a critical requirement for the successful implementation of the Nigeria Customs’ Modernisation Project.

According to him, the continued lack of harmonised technology among African Customs Administrations remains a major impediment to the implementation of the continental trade agreement.

“We are indeed delighted to note that 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”, the CG said.

While welcoming the selection of Bergmans Security to drive the initiative, he described the decision as a significant milestone for Nigeria Customs’ modernisation journey and a recognition of the country’s digital transformation efforts.

He also expressed delight that a Nigerian firm was given the platform to extend what they have been doing to the rest of Africa, adding that it is a great milestone towards achieving trade facilitation and the implementation of the AfCFTA across the continent.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Mr. Wamkele Mene, who also spoke during the event, said the Secretariat adopted Nigeria 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 benefiting 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,” Mr. Mene said.

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.