The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Benin Republic Customs Administration have inaugurated the Système Interconnecté de Gestion des Marchandises en Transit (SIGMAT) platform at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post. This digital system aims to streamline and harmonize customs procedures, facilitating smoother and more secure trade between the two nations.
The launch event, held on May 19, 2025, was attended by key officials, including the Acting Comptroller-General of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Director-General of Benin Customs, Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi. Adeniyi emphasized that SIGMAT is designed to enhance the visibility of goods in transit, combat diversion and fraud, and foster inter-agency coordination. He noted that the platform is part of a broader Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiative to improve regional trade facilitation.
SIGMAT is already operational in several West African countries, including Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, and Togo. The NCS plans to expand its deployment to more border locations and deepen bilateral technical cooperation with the Benin Republic .
The implementation of SIGMAT is expected to reduce delays, lower operational costs, and support more reliable supply chain planning across one of Africa’s most dynamic trade corridors, the Abidjan-Lagos axis .
This collaboration underscores the commitment of both countries to enhancing trade integration and regional economic transformation across West Africa.
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