Tinubu Welcomes AFCFTA’s Recognition of Nigeria Customs Modernisation Model

President Bola Tinubu expressed admiration for Nigeria's customs modernisation programme and praised the selection of a Nigerian-owned company for a significant AfCFTA project. The AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project, a 20-year, multi-billion dollar initiative, will deploy digital and physical infrastructure to enhance customs processes, cargo tracking, border management, and trade-data exchange across participating African nations.

The project will be implemented through Bergmans' subsidiary, AfriTrade CMP Limited, while another Bergmans subsidiary, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, is responsible for Nigeria's homegrown customs modernisation programme. Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria's achievements in building homegrown solutions for the African market validate the country's capacity and set a precedent for the continent.

He stressed the importance of Africans creating African solutions for African opportunities, with Nigeria's participation in the single market being just one aspect of its broader contributions. Tinubu commended the various entities involved in the project, including the Nigeria Customs Service, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene had previously visited the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters to witness the programme's implementation firsthand. The AfCFTA's Unified Customs Management System, B’Odogwu, developed by Nigeria, was described as a model for Africa, attracting interest from non-African companies. The system, which includes components such as cargo tracking, data infrastructure, surveillance, risk management, and non-intrusive inspection, has been integrated with the National Single Window, a digital gateway for cross-border trade processes launched in March 2026.