Nigeria, Benin Republic and Cameroon have reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated border management, trade facilitation and regional economic integration following a high-level benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge Border Post between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The five-day mission brought together the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi; Director-General of Cameroon Customs, Fongod Nuvaga; Director-General of Benin Customs, Raouf Aboudou; Acting Commissioner of Customs and Excise at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Lonto Ndlovu; and Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, Saleh Ahmadu.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, the exercise was organised with the support of the African Export-Import Bank as part of efforts to deepen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Speaking during the adoption of a joint communiqué, Adeniyi described the mission as an opportunity for African customs administrations to move beyond policy discussions and implement modern border management systems.

He said lessons from the Beitbridge and Chirundu border posts in Zimbabwe highlighted the importance of coordinated institutions, digital integration and collaborative leadership in transforming trade corridors.

“Beitbridge has demonstrated that border modernisation is not merely about infrastructure development. Sustainable reform depends on coordinated institutions, clear accountability, digital interoperability and professional human capital,” Adeniyi said.

“We are leaving here with a renewed commitment to translate these lessons into practical solutions that will strengthen trade facilitation, security and economic growth across our region.”

Cameroon Customs Director-General Fongod Nuvaga stressed the need for collective action to eliminate procedural bottlenecks while maintaining effective border controls.

He said stronger regional cooperation would enable African countries to maximise opportunities under the AfCFTA and accelerate economic integration.

Similarly, Benin Customs Director-General Raouf Aboudou said the Beitbridge model offered practical lessons for improving border efficiency in West Africa through harmonised procedures, coordinated risk management and stronger institutional partnerships.

Earlier, Afreximbank’s Director for Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Gainmore Zanamwe, said the mission was designed to expose participating administrations to the governance structures, operational models and institutional reforms underpinning successful modern border posts.

“Infrastructure is important, but what truly drives performance is an operating model built on accountability, coordination, technology and measurable service standards. Those are the lessons we hope will be replicated across strategic corridors on the continent,” he said.

Participants attended technical sessions, executive briefings and facility tours covering freight terminals, cargo processing facilities, scanning operations, traffic management systems and integrated ICT infrastructure at the Beitbridge Border Post.

The benchmarking team, comprising officials from the Nigeria, Cameroon and Benin customs administrations, Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, and Bsmart Technologies, also received briefings on the Beitbridge Modernisation and Concession Model, including its financing, operational framework, revenue management systems and coordinated border governance structure.

In the joint communiqué issued at the end of the mission, the participating customs administrations identified the Sèmè-Kraké corridor between Nigeria and Benin Republic and the Mfum-Ekok corridor linking Nigeria and Cameroon as priority routes for coordinated border management and One-Stop Border Post implementation.

The three countries also agreed to establish a Trilateral Strategic Steering Committee to oversee implementation of the mission’s recommendations, while pursuing harmonised border procedures, digital interoperability, coordinated risk management and continued investment in customs personnel development.