Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon advance customs interconnection project

Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon have reached a decisive milestone in modernizing their customs systems through a digital interconnection project. Validated during a technical summit in Cairo and supported by Afreximbank, the initiative aims to merge the nations' IT platforms to streamline cross-border trade and eliminate administrative bottlenecks.

The digital reform is designed to reduce redundant formalities, data transmission delays, and administrative inconsistencies that have historically increased costs for exporters and importers. By creating a unified ecosystem for instantaneous information flow, the project seeks to enhance regional competitiveness and facilitate smoother goods movement.

In a related effort to boost regional transit, the Port Authority of Douala (PAD) has entered discussions with transport operators from Burkina Faso. Aiming to position Cameroon as a primary gateway for the landlocked nation, PAD officials met with Burkinabe delegations to discuss reducing transport costs and improving customs efficiency between Douala and Ouagadougou.