SEME-KRAKE — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially launched the pilot phase of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), a digital platform aimed at enhancing regional trade integration and combating cross-border fraud across West Africa.
The launch event took place at the Seme-Krake joint border post, marking Nigeria’s formal entry into the ECOWAS-driven system, which enables real-time electronic exchange of transit goods information among member countries. The pilot is expected to improve customs efficiency, ease cargo movement, and reduce the risk of diversion and smuggling.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who presided over the launch, described SIGMAT as a critical milestone in Nigeria’s quest for seamless trade facilitation and regional economic development. “The SIGMAT platform revolutionizes the way goods in transit are monitored across borders. It will increase transparency, streamline procedures, and support our mission to protect state revenue while promoting legitimate trade,” he said.
The Comptroller-General noted that the system was designed to replace outdated paper-based methods with a fully digital platform that enables the transmission of transit data between customs systems of participating ECOWAS countries. Already, nations like Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Niger have successfully adopted the system.
Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, Director General of the Customs Administration of the Republic of Benin, praised the bilateral cooperation, adding that the implementation of SIGMAT between Nigeria and Benin would strengthen trust and coordination. “This system will facilitate the uninterrupted flow of goods from ports in Abidjan through Benin and into Nigeria, enhancing economic ties across the corridor,” she said.
The Nigeria Customs Service has reportedly concluded all technical and policy requirements for the rollout, including integration of SIGMAT with its Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu), establishment of a direct link to the ECOWAS electronic hub, and successful exchange of transit messages with the Benin Republic.
The NCS also revealed plans to extend SIGMAT operations to other critical transit corridors including Idiroko, Chikanda, and Katsina. According to Adeniyi, future steps will involve capacity building for customs officers, bilateral coordination mechanisms with neighboring administrations, and the formation of a SIGMAT monitoring taskforce.
Supported by the ECOWAS Commission and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), the SIGMAT initiative is central to harmonizing customs operations, reducing bottlenecks, and improving the competitiveness of West African economies. The rollout is also expected to support broader continental goals under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
With Nigeria’s strategic participation, SIGMAT is poised to become a transformative force in securing and accelerating trade across the ECOWAS subregion.
