ABUJA — In a landmark step towards strengthening border security and promoting trade compliance, the governments of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have jointly deployed the SIGMAT (Interconnected Goods Transit System) technology to combat smuggling across their shared borders.
The innovation, developed under the framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aims to ensure seamless transit of goods while enabling customs authorities to track consignments in real-time, reducing incidents of cargo diversion and illicit trade.
Speaking at the bilateral launch event in Cotonou, the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, said the integration of SIGMAT between the two countries marks a new era in regional customs cooperation and border management.
“This is a game-changer in the fight against smuggling. By connecting our transit systems electronically, we eliminate loopholes and ensure greater transparency in the movement of goods,” Adeniyi stated.
His Beninese counterpart, Director-General of Benin Customs, Alain Hinkati, noted that SIGMAT will also improve trade facilitation by reducing delays and paperwork, aligning both countries with global customs modernization standards.
The system allows customs administrations to share data on goods in transit from departure to destination, enabling early detection of anomalies and reducing revenue losses associated with undeclared or under-declared imports.
Traders and logistics operators welcomed the deployment, describing it as a boost to cross-border commerce and a deterrent to illegal trafficking.
The Nigeria-Benin partnership on SIGMAT forms part of a broader ECOWAS agenda to enhance regional trade integration and economic security.
