Paradigm Shift :  Ten years after, CGC launches SIGMAT Connectivity to make Seme border digital frontier for international trade

Paradigm Shift :  Ten years after, CGC launches SIGMAT Connectivity to make Seme border digital frontier for international trade

Monday, May 19, 2025, marked a significant milestone in cross-border trade between Nigeria and Benin Republic, as the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, officially
launched SIGMAT Connectivity between both countries to make Seme border a new frontier for international trade.

With SIGMAT Connectivity in place, trade facilitation at Seme, the border between Nigeria and Benin Republic will be technology driven, highly digitalised, and a complete departure from the analog system that cross-border trade was known for at the region.

Historically, SIGMAT Connectivity, a laudable idea conceived over ten years ago, but left in the pipeline, has been brought to limelight by CGC Adeniyi, a Customs Boss who believes in innovation and evolving world of digital technologies in promoting trade facilitation for greater economic growth and well-being of the citizenry.

The deployment of SIGMAT Connectivity at Seme, the busiest border in the West African sub-region, will foster cross-border trade between Nigeria and Benin Republic, with tremendous economic benefits for both countries and the West African sub’-region at large.

Speaking during the auspicious occasion, CGC Adeniyi expressed optimism with the latest innovation, stressed that in future, Seme will manage international trade that is technology driven like what obtains in advanced countries. “It will change the narrative of the old analog system. With the new approach, things are going to change”, he enthused.

The CGC stressed that deployment of SIGMAT Connectivity is imperative for trade facilitation and inter-agency collaboration. He emphasised :  “This launch marks a major milestone in our collective pursuit of seamless trade integration and regional economic transformation across West Africa, amongst others.

“The Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) is a flagship initiation of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aimed at digitalising and harmonising customs transit operations across member States.

“Conceived over a decade ago, the SIGMAT platform was designed to :
• Improve visibility of goods in transit.
• Combat diversion and fraud along corridors.
• Enhance inter-agency coordination.
• Simplify border procedures and reduce delays.
• Facilitate trade while securing State revenue.

“Implementation began progressively with pilot deployments in countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, and Togo, with the support of ECOWAS
Commission and German Development Cooperation (GIZ).”

He continued :  “For Nigeria, SIGMAT reflects our strategic ambition to align with regional digital customs
standards and drive the modernisation of trade corridors.
I am pleased to report that Nigeria Customs Service has completed all technical, operational, and policy prerequisites for SIGMAT deployment.”

He informed : “Highlights of our readiness include: *Development of a dedicated SIGMAT application, built by our in-house technical
team.
• Integration of SIGMAT with our Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu).
• Deployment of the application at SEME Area Command as the pilot corridor.
• Technical testing and validation of message exchange protocols between Nigeria and Benin Republic
• Successful connectivity to ECOWAS eHub, hosted in Lomé, Togo, which acts as the regional node for all SIGMAT communications”.

More so, the CGC highlighted the successes and challenges. The exact words of CGC Adeniyi :  “Some of the key achievements so far include;
• Development of a standalone SIGMAT application tailored for Nigeria’s customs
landscape.
• Successful testing of real-time transit message exchange between Nigeria and Benin.
• Mapping and harmonisation of entry/exit itineraries at Seme-Krake border.
• Establishment of direct connectivity to the ECOWAS eHub, ensuring regional interoperability.
• Strengthened collaboration with the Benin Customs Administration through multiple bilateral technical meetings.

“These milestones not only reflect Nigeria’s technical capacity but also our unwavering commitment to regional integration.”

He pointed out the challenges. “Despite these successes, we must acknowledge certain challenges that have delayed full deployment of new clearance applications of both Nigeria Customs Service and
the Benin Customs Administration. These include;
• Delays in technical feedback from our partner administration in Benin at critical stages of implementation.
• Varying levels of automation and ICT maturity across other Nigeria-Benin border posts, which may limit SIGMAT expansion beyond Seme-Krake in the short term.
• The need for more robust stakeholders’ sensitisation and training, especially among
transporters, clearing agents, and border agencies
• Language barrier, especially during  virtual and physical technical meetings.
• Limited operational awareness among some border communities and transit corridor stakeholders.

“The Way Forward.
Looking ahead, the Nigeria Customs Service proposes the following strategies:
• Expand SIGMAT deployment to additional border locations such as Idiroko, Chikanda, and Katsina) with support from ECOWAS and national partners.
• Strengthen bilateral communication mechanisms to ensure timely technical engagement between Nigeria and Benin.
• Collaborate with ECOWAS and GIZ on capacity building programmes for customs officers, private sector actors, and relevant MDAs
• Establish a joint SIGMAT Monitoring Taskforce to track system uptime, message flow, and procedural compliance.
• Continue engagement with ECOWAS SIGMAT Steering Committee to share
lessons learned and support other member States in their implementation journey”.

Also speaking, the Director General of Benin Republic Customs said that
the official launch of SIGMAT connectivity aimed at digitalising Customs operations between both countries.

She added : “The is a welcome development. In coming days, we will see the full realisation of the deployment of SIGMAT Connectivity in Benin Republic and Nigeria”.

The programme also created ample opportunity for technical presentations and close-door interaction among Customs Authorities of both countries, freight forwarders, maritime traders and relevant stakeholders.

Certainly, CGC Adeniyi is working assiduously to support the efforts of Federal Government in rejuvenating the nation’s economy.