The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Administration of Benin Republic have jointly launched the “Système Interconnecté de Gestion des Marchandises en Transit” (SIGMAT) platform.
SIGMAT is an Economic Community of West African States project that aims to facilitate trade and transport within the region by implementing an interconnected system for managing goods in transit.
The platform which is expected to boost regional trade and eliminate bottlenecks linked to international trade, was unveiled on Monday during a press conference held at the Seme-Krake joint border post.
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi explained that the SIGMAT platform is designed to connect both customs services, remove challenges faced by operators, and foster cooperation between the two customs organizations.
He expressed optimism about the platform’s success, citing its effective implementation in seven other countries along the corridor.
The Director General of Benin Customs Administration, Mme. Adidjath Hassan Zanouvii, stated that the implementation of the SIGMAT platform will collectively address cross-border issues affecting both customs administrations.
She noted that the platform aims to digitalize and harmonize customs transit operations, improve visibility of goods in transit, combat diversion and fraud, and simplify procedures at borders.
The SIGMAT platform is part of a broader effort to promote regional economic transformation across West Africa.
The launch marks a significant milestone in the collective pursuit of seamless trade integration and regional economic cooperation.
The platform’s implementation has already started in several ECOWAS member states, including Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, and Togo, with the support of the ECOWAS Commission and the German Development Cooperation Agency.
By launching the SIGMAT platform, Nigeria and Benin aim to enhance trade facilitation, reduce delays, and promote economic prosperity between the two countries.
Comment here