Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon have intensified discussions with Afreximbank on a regional border modernisation programme. The goal is to advance the African Continental Free Trade Area. The programme combines digital integration with physical infrastructure upgrades. At its centre is the Customs Declaration Exchange System. The system will connect Nigeria’s B’Odogwu platform, Benin’s Customs Webb and Cameroon’s CAMCIS.
West and Central African borders are notoriously inefficient. Trucks queue for days. Informal payments are common. Infrastructure is poor. Electricity is unreliable. The AfCFTA aims to reduce trade barriers. But without functional borders, the agreement remains theoretical. In 2024, Nigeria and Benin signed agreements on trade facilitation. Implementation has been slow. Afreximbank has financed infrastructure across the continent. It sees border modernisation as critical to regional integration.
The programme was discussed at a meeting in Abuja. The assessments found significant gaps. At the Mfum-Ekok border between Nigeria and Cameroon, unreliable electricity, poor connectivity, inadequate IT equipment, cybersecurity concerns and insufficient technical support were identified. At the Sèmè-Kraké corridor linking Nigeria and Benin, incomplete joint procedures, non-functional cargo scanning and weighing facilities, unreliable electricity, traffic congestion and inconsistent operating hours were flagged. The findings reinforced the need for immediate fixes and a properly costed long-term modernisation programme.
Afreximbank proposed a two-stage approach. First, independent engineering assessments and investment-cost studies at both border posts. Second, separate bankable project packages for each corridor. No financing commitment has been concluded. The programme aims to reduce procedural bottlenecks and improve cargo visibility. Export information from one country will support advance preparation of import documentation in the receiving country. The receiving country retains authority to validate information and authorise clearance.
Winners: Traders, who face faster clearance. Afreximbank, which gains a role. Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon, which gain efficiency. The AfCFTA, which gains momentum. Losers: Border officials who profit from delays. Smugglers, who face better surveillance. Communities dependent on informal trade. No serious losers if the programme delivers.
Bottom Line: Three countries are modernising their borders. Afreximbank is supporting. The system will connect customs platforms. The goal is faster trade. The assessments exposed gaps. The financing is not yet agreed. The vision is sound. Delivery is years away.