President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged African nations to break down inefficient borders, modernise their Customs systems and commit to a unified trade framework capable of transforming the continent’s economic fortunes. The President made the call on Monday at the opening of the maiden Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Summit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu said Africa can only achieve meaningful prosperity by replacing fragmented markets with cohesive, technology-driven trade systems backed by political will and institutional reforms.
He noted that Nigeria’s ongoing economic interventions including exchange rate unification, fuel subsidy removal, port upgrades and Customs digitalisation were crafted to create a globally competitive environment while strengthening Nigeria’s position within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Tinubu disclosed that Nigeria’s National Single Window set for launch in March 2026 will reduce cargo clearance timelines from 21 days to fewer than seven, aligning Nigeria fully with AfCFTA’s digital trade protocols.
“Integration cannot be declared. It must be engineered,” he said, urged African nations to translate policy commitments into tangible outcomes that benefit businesses and citizens.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, said his renewed mandate contained specific performance benchmarks tied to AfCFTA implementation. He revealed that in recent months, Nigeria Customs has deepened engagements with Customs administrations across Africa to ensure Customs plays a central role in AfCFTA’s operational framework.
Adeniyi recounted recent engagements with the AfCFTA Secretariat in Ghana, emphasized the importance of rules of origin enforcement, preferential duty application and harmonised trade facilitation systems. He cautioned that previous regional integration efforts, including ECOWAS trade schemes, faltered because countries failed to honour their commitments consistently.
He said growing consensus across the continent recognises Customs as the engine of AfCFTA execution and noted that sustained advocacy for Customs inclusion led to the birth of C-PACT a platform driving collaboration among Customs authorities, private-sector operators, regulators and development partners.
Adeniyi highlighted Nigeria’s 30 percent export growth over the last two years, saying the next phase is to redirect more trade flows into African markets where the developmental impact is higher. He commended AfreximBank, the AfCFTA Secretariat, NEPC, NPA and commercial banks for aligning with Customs on key trade facilitation reforms.
He also announced that 30 African Customs administrations registered for the summit, with 22 represented at Director-General level. The attendance of the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Ian Saunders, he said, demonstrates global recognition of Nigeria’s leadership.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Wale Edun, the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Anite, said Customs reforms are integral to Nigeria’s fiscal transformation goals, as efficient border operations lower business costs and attract investment.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, described AfCFTA as Africa’s most critical economic engine but warned that outdated processes still hinder its full impact. She outlined recent reforms undertaken in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs Service, including tariff concession schedules and a dedicated export corridor to East and Southern Africa.
WCO Secretary-General Ian Saunders said Africa’s projected economic growth in 2025 depends largely on Customs efficiency. Describing C-PACT as aligned with global Customs standards, he reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting African Customs modernisation.
AfreximBank Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade, Kanayo Awani, said the bank is deploying digital tracking, transit-bond guarantees and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund to support Customs transformation across Africa and ease tariff-revenue transitions.
AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, stressed that Customs must lead the implementation of AfCFTA annexes on cooperation, transit and trade facilitation. He hailed Nigeria’s leadership and Adeniyi’s role as WCO Council Chair, noting that Africa depends on Customs to translate policy into practical border outcomes that reduce costs, eliminate bottlenecks and strengthen market access.
