President Bola Tinubu has commended the decision by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to adopt Nigeria’s customs modernization model. This endorsement follows the selection of AfriTrade CMP Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian firm Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, to execute a multi-billion-dollar, 20-year project across Africa. The firm will deploy digital and physical infrastructure to improve cargo tracking, border management, and data exchange between nations. Another Bergmans entity, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, currently oversees similar reforms within Nigeria.
President Tinubu remarked that this achievement proves Nigeria can develop domestic solutions that address broader continental needs. He emphasized that the initiative represents a shift toward African-led progress, stating that Nigerian businesses are capable of building the necessary technology for regional market integration. The President extended his appreciation to the involved companies and the Nigeria Customs Service, specifically acknowledging Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
During a visit to Abuja, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene toured the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters to observe the indigenous B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System in action. Mene highlighted that despite interest from international firms, the organization chose an African-developed solution to promote local innovation. Senator Jibrin Isah, who led the Senate Committee on Customs during the visit, expressed full support for the technology. The B’Odogwu system, which functions alongside Nigeria’s National Single Window project, serves as a core component for streamlining trade, reducing costs, and facilitating the rapid movement of goods across borders.
