Nigeria Customs Service Partners Bergmans for AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project

• The AfCFTA Secretariat has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited to implement the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project.
• The project aims to harmonise customs procedures and ease cross-border trade in goods through digital and physical infrastructure investments.
• Bergmans will finance and deploy cutting-edge technologies, including non-intrusive inspection technology and multilingual customs portals.
• The ACMP is expected to learn from the success of the Nigeria Customs Service Modernisation Project and bring about a new era in customs harmonisation across Africa.

The project's focus on harmonisation is crucial, given that intra-African trade currently accounts for only 18% of the continent's total trade, a gap the AfCFTA has identified as a key area for improvement.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has embarked on a major initiative to modernize customs processes across its member states. The project, dubbed the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project (ACMP), aims to harmonise customs procedures and ease cross-border trade in goods. Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, a private security company, has been selected as the partner for this endeavour. According to Bergmans, the ACMP will leverage digital and physical infrastructure investments to streamline customs processes, making it easier for businesses to operate across borders. The project's focus on harmonisation is crucial, given that intra-African trade currently accounts for only 18% of the continent's total trade, a gap the AfCFTA has identified as a key area for improvement.

The ACMP marks a significant shift towards greater cooperation and harmonisation among AfCFTA member states. By leveraging private sector financing through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), the project seeks to bridge the gap between policy and action in customs modernisation. Bergmans' chairman, Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, has stated that the company's approach relies on PPP arrangements, which will enable the deployment of digital and physical infrastructure across AfCFTA member states. The ACMP is expected to include cutting-edge technologies such as non-intrusive inspection technology, data centres, electronic cargo-tracking systems, and multilingual customs portals. Additionally, investment in One-Stop-Border-Posts along regional trade corridors will facilitate smoother cross-border movement of goods.

Bergmans has cited the success of the Nigeria Customs Service Modernisation Project as a key factor in its selection for the ACMP. This project, which is a Nigerian government initiative, has been recognised globally for its achievements in customs modernisation. The Comptroller General of Customs, Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has stated that the ACMP will learn from the successes of the Nigeria Customs Service Modernisation Project to bring about a new dawn in customs harmonisation across the continent. The project's potential impact on cross-border trade and customs processes in Nigeria and beyond is significant, making it essential for lawyers and compliance officers to monitor its progress closely.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for the potential impact of this project on cross-border trade and customs processes in Nigeria and across Africa, with a focus on ensuring compliance with AfCFTA regulations and identifying opportunities to leverage digital and physical infrastructure investments.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica