President Bola Tinubu has urged African nations to break inefficient borders and modernise their Customs systems, saying the continent cannot achieve shared prosperity without coordinated reforms.
Declaring open the maiden Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Summit in Abuja, the President, who was represented by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, said Africa must turn its large population and market into a truly integrated economic bloc driven by technology and unified trade rules.
Shettima noted that Nigeria’s exchange rate reforms, fuel subsidy removal, port modernisation and ongoing Customs digitalisation were designed to build a globally competitive trade environment.
He added that the National Single Window, due by March 2026, will cut cargo clearance times from 21 days to under seven and align the country fully with AfCFTA’s digital framework.
Customs Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi said the extension of his mandate came with performance indicators directly tied to AfCFTA implementation.
He disclosed that Nigeria has deepened engagements with Customs administrations across Africa to ensure that rules of origin, preferential duties and trade preferences are properly enforced.
Adeniyi, who recently held talks with the AfCFTA Secretariat in Ghana, warned that regional trade schemes fail when member states ignore commitments, citing setbacks in the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.
He said this informed the creation of C-PACT as a platform to strengthen cooperation among African Customs chiefs, private-sector operators and development partners.
He revealed that 30 Customs administrations are attending the summit, 22 led by their Directors-General and the World Customs Organisation’s Secretary-General is participating for the first time in a Nigeria-hosted Customs conference.
Representing the Minister of Finance, Minister of State Doris Anite said Customs reforms remain central to Nigeria’s fiscal transformation, as efficient borders reduce business costs and attract investment.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, added that despite AfCFTA’s promise, outdated systems still hinder its impact, prompting new reforms such as dedicated export corridors.
WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders said the C-PACT vision aligns with the organisation’s mission, noting that Customs efficiency will determine Africa’s ability to unlock its growth forecast for 2025.
AfreximBank Executive Vice President Kanayo Awani highlighted the bank’s support for Customs modernisation, including transit-bond guarantees, tracking systems and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund to cushion tariff-loss impacts.
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene praised Nigeria’s leadership and Adeniyi’s role as WCO Council Chair, saying Customs administrations remain the “engine room” of AfCFTA and must translate trade rules into practical, seamless border operations.