By James Ogunnaike

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko, and its counterpart from the Benin Republic have renewed their commitment to strengthening the existing trade relationship between the two countries to further enhance the war against trans-border smuggling.

The customs authorities of the two countries also pledged to evolve workable solutions that will enable them to jointly tackle the challenges hindering the smooth flow of trade between them. This will ensure that Nigeria and the Republic of Benin continue to thrive in a secure and orderly manner.

These formed part of the resolutions arrived at by the management of the Ogun 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko, led by the Area Commander, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu and the head of the Benin Republic Customs Area Controller in Igolo Command, Soglonou Jean-Paul, who led a six-man delegate to a closed-door strategic meeting in Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Speaking with newsmen after emerging from the closed-door meeting, which also had other stakeholders, including the Association of the Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), CAC Shuaibu explained that the meeting afforded the two countries an opportunity to identify barriers and work together to find practical solutions that will facilitate legitimate trans-border trade.

“The economic relationship between Nigeria and Benin Republic is vital not only to our bilateral ties but to the entire region. Both countries share a rich history of trade and economic cooperation, and we must ensure this continues to thrive in a secure and orderly manner”.

“The session offered the opportunity to hear firsthand from stakeholders, share insights and engage in frank discussions that will lead to actionable outcomes”.

“Remember that the theme and keywords in our Controller General of Customs’ charge is consultation, collaboration, synergy and transformation. So, all we are trying to do is to cement the existing relationship between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, which has been an old tie”.

“Again, that tie would not go unnoticed without trade. And so, the trade is what we are trying to cement now”.

“Be that as it may, we are just trying to see how we can have a seamless trade experience and facilitate legitimate trade between the two countries. So, we are here, and all of us have agreed on one point, and that is to enforce the fiscal policy of the government against smuggling activities”.

“Since Customs all over the world are one, the Customs Services of the two countries have agreed that whatever is happening to one definitely happens to the other, except for where tariff and fiscal policy differ. So, this invariably means that whatever is happening to country A is also happening to country B”.


“So, I think the synergy and collaboration is one, and we want to ensure that we carry it to the letter”.

Shuaibu, however, disclosed that the exit of the three countries: Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, from the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), has in no way affected trade in the region”.

“The issue of trade does not matter because there are other countries that are still sending their goods from other parts of the world, not only ECOWAS alone. So, all we are still talking about is that we still have the African Free Trade Association (AFTA), and all of us are under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and not only ECOWAS treaties. So, their exit does not affect us in any form”.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/nigeria-benin-republic-renew-commitments-to-legitimate-trans-border-trade/