President Bola Tinubu has approved the provision of safe corridors and guaranteed passage to ease the movement of transit cargo bound for the Republic of Niger, as part of efforts to unlock bottlenecks and strengthen cross-border trade and security.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi made this known during a high-level bilateral meeting between the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and the Niger Republic Customs Administration, led by its Director-General, Muhammadu Yaqouba, at the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja.
He explained that the initiative is designed to facilitate the timely movement of loaded trucks, particularly goods originating from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports and destined for neighbouring countries, while ensuring that Nigeria’s national security and economic interests are adequately protected.
According to the CGC, transit cargoes will continue to be processed and moved within 48 hours, with strict anti-diversion measures in place. He warned that economic operators who violate transit regulations would face stiff sanctions, stressing that non-compliance by a few stakeholders often creates non-tariff barriers and erodes trust.
Adeniyi said the Service is determined to streamline documentation processes and eliminate avoidable delays along key corridors, including Illela–Sokoto–Kamba–Niger Republic, as well as routes linking Apapa ports and Nigerian airports to neighbouring countries.
He congratulated Yaqouba on his appointment, noting that both Customs administrations share a long history of professional cooperation through the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and sustained bilateral engagements.
“Cooperation between our two Services is shaped not only by shared borders but also by international obligations, particularly Nigeria’s responsibilities under Articles 124 to 132 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantee landlocked countries access to the sea,” Adeniyi said.
Acknowledging the operational challenges faced by landlocked countries, the CGC noted that dependence on neighbouring ports and infrastructure often increases transaction costs and reduces competitiveness.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has remained committed to facilitating trade for our landlocked neighbours, including the Republic of Niger. This commitment will be sustained irrespective of political differences, because trade, security and regional stability are interconnected,” he added.
He described the meeting as the beginning of a renewed phase of cooperation, expressing confidence that sustained follow-up actions would help redefine operational modalities, reduce costs, boost trade volumes and make the transit corridor more attractive to transport operators.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Niger Republic Customs Administration, Muhammadu Yaqouba, described the visit as a working engagement between two professional Customs institutions bound by shared responsibilities.
He thanked the Nigeria Customs Service for the warm reception accorded to him and his delegation, describing it as a reflection of the longstanding fraternity between both countries.
Yaqouba said the visit was prompted by two key challenges: the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from the Republic of Benin to Niger and prevailing security concerns across the region.
“We face common security challenges, particularly terrorism and banditry, and engagements like this provide an opportunity to develop lasting solutions through cooperation and coordination,” he said.
He disclosed that Niger Republic has intensified counter-terrorism efforts since 2024, including the launch of Operation Saran Kasa, a coordinated security initiative involving multiple agencies, which he said has recorded notable successes.
As part of the operation, scanners have been deployed to inspect all goods entering the country, underscoring the role of Customs administrations in combating terrorism, arms trafficking and cross-border crime.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Garba Laka, congratulated Yaqouba on his appointment and extended condolences to the Government and people of Niger over a recent terrorist attack near Niamey Airport.
Describing Nigeria and Niger as countries bound by deep historical, cultural and familial ties, particularly in border communities, Laka stressed that insecurity in any part of the Sahel poses a collective threat.
“Arms trafficking, drug smuggling and the concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles remain major risks that require coordinated and sustained action,” he said.
The Major-General disclosed that the Nigerian government places high priority on Niger-related matters, including trade, energy supply and security, adding that requests from Niger, particularly on petroleum products and gas, receive prompt attention at the highest level.
He advocated the revival of bilateral security frameworks such as cross-border right-of-pursuit arrangements, joint operations and sustained inter-agency collaboration, expressing confidence that the meeting would yield concrete and actionable outcomes.
