President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on African nations to break down inefficient borders and fully modernise their Customs systems in order to build a more integrated continental economy.
Declaring open the maiden C-PACT Summit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu—represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima—said Africa must replace fragmented trade regimes with coordinated policies driven by political will and technology.
He said reforms undertaken by the administration, including exchange-rate unification and port digitalisation, are designed to make Nigeria a competitive hub within AfCFTA. The VP disclosed that the National Single Window will be operational by March 2026, reducing cargo clearance timelines to under seven days.
Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi said his renewed mandate contains KPIs tied to AfCFTA implementation. He said Customs has expanded engagements with African counterparts to strengthen rules of origin enforcement and streamline duty preferences.
Adeniyi emphasised that Africa’s past integration initiatives, such as ETLS, struggled due to poor implementation by member states. He said stakeholders now agree that Customs must be central to AfCFTA’s execution.
He noted that Nigeria’s export volume has grown by 30 per cent in two years, with efforts underway to redirect more exports to African markets. He added that 30 Customs administrations from across Africa registered for the conference, including 22 DG-level participants.
Minister of State for Finance Doris Anite said Customs reforms will lower business costs and improve investor confidence. Minister of Trade Jumoke Oduwole said digital gaps and outdated systems still limit AfCFTA’s impact but highlighted ongoing reforms to address them.
WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders, AfreximBank’s Kanayo Awani, and AfCFTA SG Wamkele Mene all underscored the importance of efficient, harmonised Customs systems in unlocking Africa’s trade potential.
Tinubu Seeks End to Inefficient Borders as Africa’s Customs Chiefs Meet in Abuja
