Funso OLOJO, Editor

Nigeria and Benin Republic have taken a major step towards harmonising cross-border trade procedures and removing bottlenecks along the strategic Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, with the two countries moving to establish a Joint Border Post at the Seme-Kraké frontier.

The initiative is designed to deepen regional economic integration, facilitate legitimate trade, improve border security and enable the seamless movement of goods and people between the two countries.

The development gathered momentum on Friday, September 11, 2026, when the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Benin Customs Administration conducted a joint assessment of the infrastructure and operational readiness of the proposed One-Stop Border Post at Seme-Kraké.

The exercise, tagged “Joint Nigeria-Benin Republic One-Stop Border Post Assessment at Seme-Kraké,” was themed “Leveraging the Nigeria Customs Service Trade Modernisation Project to Advance Seamless Cross-Border Trade and Shared Prosperity.”

The assessment is part of a broader effort by the two Customs administrations to harmonise border procedures, reduce trade barriers, strengthen institutional coordination and improve the efficiency of legitimate commerce across the Nigeria-Benin border.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi, said the assessment was aimed at reviewing the operational readiness of the facility, examining existing border processes and infrastructure, and demonstrating the border-modernisation solution being deployed to support secure interoperability between the two Customs administrations.

Adeniyi stressed the strategic importance of the Seme-Kraké crossing, describing it as one of the busiest land borders in West Africa and a critical gateway along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.

According to him, the corridor carries more than 70 per cent of the sub-region’s transit trade, making efficiency at the Seme-Kraké border critical to the economies of countries along the route.

He said the border operates around the clock throughout the year, warning that delays at the crossing have consequences far beyond the immediate border environment.

“Every hour lost at this gate is multiplied across thousands of consignments and tens of thousands of travellers, and is paid for in the price of goods in markets from Cotonou to Lagos.

“Conversely, an hour saved here is saved for the whole region. There are few places on this continent where the ratio between effort and effect is as favourable as it is at this crossing,” he said.

The Customs boss, however, noted that despite the two administrations operating within the same border environment, they were yet to achieve full digital interoperability.

He said there was still no seamless real-time exchange of declarations, manifests, transit information, risk profiles and enforcement alerts between the two countries.

Adeniyi disclosed that the NCS had therefore commenced work towards interconnecting the two administrations through a common data-exchange arrangement.

He explained that the system would enable declarations lodged on one side of the border to become visible to the other administration in real time, while transit consignments could be tracked from origin to destination.

He added that risk profiles and enforcement alerts generated by one Customs administration would also be transmitted to its counterpart while such information remained operationally useful.

The CGC further drew attention to the critical role of informal cross-border traders, particularly women, in the regional economy.

He said women account for more than 70 per cent of informal cross-border traders across Africa, adding that the pattern was particularly pronounced along the Nigeria-Benin corridor.

According to him, about 22 per cent of Benin’s informal exports are destined for Nigeria, while informal trade accounts for an estimated one-fifth of economic activity in Nigeria and a significantly higher proportion in Benin.

Adeniyi commended the Benin Customs Administration for the confidence it had placed in the Nigerian Customs Service and the leadership of both administrations to drive the One-Stop Border Post initiative.

On his part, the Director-General of the Benin Customs Administration, Raouf Malehossou, commended Nigeria for spearheading the initiative, describing the integration of border operations as critical to economic growth and regional trade.

Malehossou said the proposed Joint Border Post was fundamentally about strengthening risk management and prevention by enabling Customs administrations to anticipate potential threats and address them at the earliest possible stage.

He said the ability to identify risks early was critical to effective border management, trade facilitation and national security.

“These are the fundamental questions that a Joint Border Post operating under a One-Stop-Shop model must be able to answer,” he said.

The Benin Customs chief stressed that achieving the desired level of efficiency would require more than modern roads, scanners and physical infrastructure.

He said smooth and secure border operations depended on a comprehensive package of reforms encompassing close institutional coordination, genuine digital interoperability, clear lines of responsibility and sustained investment in Customs personnel.

He urged the technical teams from both countries to use the assessment to identify not only what currently exists but also what needs to be done to make the facility capable of meeting future demands.

Malehossou said the ultimate objective should be a border operating through genuine coordination, shared facilities, harmonised procedures and joint controls.

He described the initiative as a critical component of the future of African trade and regional integration within ECOWAS, particularly the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.

“The bridge we see today provides a vital physical link between Abidjan and Lagos and beyond. Our historic responsibility now is to ensure that the movement of people and goods across this corridor is as efficient and seamless as the infrastructure allows,” he said.

He called on both administrations to move from assessment to implementation, declaring: “Let us therefore get to work.”

Okey IBEKE

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s promise to reopen Nigeria’s land borders if elected president in 2027 may appeal to traders and border communities who depend on cross-border commerce.

But the promise raises a more important question: what exactly does he intend to reopen?

The Federal Government has challenged the premise of the proposal, insisting that Nigeria’s borders are not closed.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, recalled that Seme, Illela, Maigatari and Mfum borders were reopened in December 2020, followed by Idiroko and Ikom for goods and services in April 2022.

The present administration also opened Kamba and Tsamiya borders in Kebbi State in February 2026.

Atiku reportedly made his promise on August 26th, 2026 while receiving a political support group in Abuja.

He said he would reopen the land borders and develop southern ports to boost trade if elected in 2027, arguing that restrictions had hurt legitimate trans-border commerce, contributed to business failures and pushed some young entrepreneurs into unemployment.

There is undoubtedly a case for making Nigeria’s border administration more efficient. Border communities depend on trade with neighbouring countries, while Nigerian businesses need access to regional markets.

Unnecessary delays, poor infrastructure, excessive bureaucracy and multiple checkpoints are already being addressed.

Legitimate traders should be able to move their goods without avoidable obstacles.
But legitimate trade is not the same as smuggling.

The fact that Nigerians have traded across these borders for generations does not, by itself, make every such activity lawful.

Trade is legitimate when it complies with the law: goods are brought through approved entry points, properly declared and documented, applicable duties and taxes are paid, and the relevant regulations are observed.

A trader who meets those requirements is engaged in legitimate commerce. Someone who avoids approved routes, conceals goods, evades duties or brings prohibited commodities into the country is smuggling, irrespective of how long the practice has existed.

This distinction matters because compliant businesses already bear the costs of operating within the law.

Importers and manufacturers pay duties, taxes, regulatory charges, transportation costs and other expenses.

Allowing competitors to evade those obligations gives the law-abiding businessman a disadvantage and distorts the market.

This is why the Nigeria Customs Service is simultaneously facilitating legitimate trade, protecting government revenue and enforcing import and export regulations.

Its growing use of automation, risk management and digital processing is aimed at reducing friction for compliant traders while improving the detection of suspicious transactions.

The sensible objective, therefore, is smarter border administration that makes lawful commerce easier without giving illicit trade room to flourish.

There is also a security dimension that any serious border policy must confront. Nigeria’s borders are vulnerable to the movement of arms, narcotics, trafficked persons and other illicit goods, while some restrictions have been imposed specifically because of terrorism and insecurity.

Tunji-Ojo made this point in responding to Atiku’s references to Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin.

He explained that the Banki and Amchidé crossings with Cameroon were closed in 2014 because of the Boko Haram insurgency, rather than because of the 2019 trade policy.

Some crossings were subsequently reopened following security and stabilisation efforts involving Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

That history makes it difficult to treat border management as simply a matter of removing economic restrictions.

A crossing that is commercially useful can also be exploited by criminal networks, making security considerations an unavoidable part of any decision to relax controls.

If Atiku’s proposal is to simplify documentation, improve infrastructure, eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, strengthen regional trade and make it easier for legitimate small-scale traders to operate, then those objectives are difficult to oppose.

They are consistent with Nigeria’s efforts to deepen regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

But if “reopening the borders” means changing the rules that distinguish legitimate commerce from illicit activity, Nigerians deserve to know.

Which controls would be removed? Which duties would change? Would Customs declarations remain compulsory? Would prohibited goods remain prohibited? How would legitimate businesses be protected from cheaper smuggled alternatives? And what safeguards would remain against the movement of arms, narcotics and other illicit commodities?

These questions are not technicalities. They are the substance of a credible border policy.

There is also an unmistakable political attraction in Atiku’s promise. With the 2027 election approaching, appealing directly to traders and border communities offers a politically convenient message: remove the restrictions and revive commerce.

But presidential policy cannot be reduced to what sounds attractive during an election campaign.

Atiku has every right to challenge the policies of the present administration and offer an alternative.

Indeed, criticism of government policy is an essential part of democratic politics. But a presidential candidate should also be expected to explain how his alternative would work, what it would cost and what safeguards would protect the wider national interest.

Nigeria needs more legitimate trade with its neighbours, not less. It needs better border infrastructure, faster clearance, simpler procedures and stronger regional integration.

None of these requires abandoning the government’s responsibility to regulate what enters the country.

The better approach is to make legitimate trade easier without making illegal trade easier.

That means technology-driven customs procedures, transparent documentation, efficient border infrastructure, predictable charges and risk-based inspections.

Traders who comply with the law should encounter fewer obstacles; those who deliberately evade it should not be allowed to gain an unfair advantage.

Atiku’s 2027 proposal should therefore be judged not by the emotional appeal of “reopening the borders” but by the policy behind the slogan.

If he believes the present system is unnecessarily restrictive, he should identify the specific restrictions he intends to remove.

If he believes legitimate border trade is being suffocated, he should explain how he would formalise and facilitate it without encouraging smuggling.

And if security controls are to be relaxed in particular areas, he should explain how the resulting risks would be managed.

That is the level of debate Nigerians should expect from someone seeking the presidency, especially one like him that was a very senior Customs officer.

The danger is that, in the rush to distinguish himself politically ahead of 2027, Atiku may be offering a simple answer to a problem that is anything but simple.

Border communities need economic opportunities, but Nigeria also needs revenue, lives and economic protection, regulatory compliance and national security. These interests are not mutually exclusive.

Atiku’s ambition to return to the presidency is legitimate. But the pursuit of that ambition should not turn border policy into a political bargaining chip.

The question Nigerians should ultimately ask is not whether the borders should be “opened”.

It is whether Atiku’s proposal would expand legitimate trade while protecting Nigeria’s economic and security interests—or simply loosen rules that exist for a political reason.

That is the real issue behind the 2027 border promise.

Mr Okey IBEKE is the Principal Consultant, International Trade Advisory Services Ltd

Funso OLOJO, Editor

APM Terminals has commenced discussions with the Federal Government on extending its concession agreements for the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) at Onne Port beyond their 2030 expiration dates.

The Danish terminal operator also agreed to explore the development of the proposed Badagry Deep Seaport, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the project developers during a high-level meeting with the Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in Copenhagen on Monday, September 7th, 2026.

The development represents a major potential expansion of Nigeria’s deep-sea port capacity and could significantly strengthen the country’s position as a regional transshipment hub.

APM Terminals signed 25-year concession agreements with the Federal Government in 2005 to operate terminals at Apapa and Onne. The agreements are due to expire in 2030.

The company’s interest in extending the concessions was disclosed during the Copenhagen meeting, where discussions centred on further long-term investment in Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.

The Badagry MoU, meanwhile, marks a significant step towards advancing the proposed greenfield port project, which is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity, accommodate larger container vessels and create new transshipment opportunities for Nigeria and the wider West African market.

The agreement was signed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc, on behalf of APM Terminals, and the Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited and Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Limited, Didi Ndiomu.

Under the agreement, the parties will enter into exclusive negotiations to explore the development of Badagry Port, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to advancing the project.

The proposed port is expected to complement existing facilities by providing a new deepwater gateway capable of handling larger vessels and increasing cargo volumes, while also creating capacity for regional transshipment.

Speaking on the development, Oyetola said the Federal Government was committed to modernising Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for long-term private-sector investment.

“Our engagement in Denmark underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernizing Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlocking the full potential of our blue economy.

“Partnering with global terminal operators like APM Terminals to explore strategic greenfield developments such as the Badagry Port is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub,” he said.

The minister’s delegation also held discussions with senior representatives of the Danish government and other stakeholders in the Danish maritime industry as part of efforts to deepen bilateral maritime cooperation and attract investment into Nigeria’s port infrastructure.

At the meeting with APM Terminals, the extension of the company’s concessions at Apapa and WACT, Onne, featured prominently.

Managing Director, Africa & Europe, APM Terminals, Igor van den Essen, said the company viewed long-term investment in its existing concessions and the development of Badagry as complementary strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s maritime economy.

“APM Terminals is keen to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and position as a trade hub in West Africa.

“We believe further investing long-term in our concessions in Apapa and Onne helps doing that, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about that today.

“Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities,” he said.

Van den Essen said APM Terminals was encouraged by the Federal Government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa.

“We strongly believe that public-private partnerships help us deliver results that support growth because they drive long-term investment, a better business environment and, thereby, competitiveness in a rapidly developing market,” he added.

For the Badagry Port developers, the partnership with APM Terminals could herald a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime development.

Ndiomu described the proposed investment as a significant step towards transforming Nigeria into a major maritime and logistics centre in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Investing in maritime infrastructure and especially in Badagry as a greenfield port project together with APM Terminals is the beginning of Nigeria becoming the true maritime capital of sub-Saharan Africa in full alignment with the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious maritime growth strategy,” he said.

The proposed Badagry Deep Seaport is expected to expand Nigeria’s port network by enabling larger container vessels to call at the country while improving supply-chain resilience and opening new trade opportunities.

Beyond serving the Nigerian market, the project could also strengthen the country’s capacity to compete for regional transshipment business, with cargo destined for other West and Central African markets potentially handled through the strategically located deepwater facility.

With the proposed extension of the Apapa and Onne concessions and APM Terminals’ renewed interest in the Badagry greenfield project, the Copenhagen engagement could therefore mark the beginning of a broader long-term investment partnership between Nigeria and one of the world’s leading port operators.