Nigeria, Niger Customs Move to Ease Transit Bottlenecks, Boost Border Security

Nigeria, Niger Customs Move to Ease Transit Bottlenecks, Boost Border Security

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Nigeria and the Republic of Niger have agreed on fresh measures to ease transit bottlenecks, facilitate cross-border trade and strengthen border security, as President Bola Tinubu approved the provision of safe corridors for the movement of goods destined for landlocked neighbouring countries.

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Friday during a high-level bilateral meeting between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Niger Republic Customs Administration at the Customs House, Maitama, Abuja.

Adeniyi said the approval would allow the safe passage of loaded trucks awaiting clearance to Niger, particularly cargoes originating from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports, while ensuring that national security and economic interests are protected.

According to him, transit cargo will continue to be processed and moved within 48 hours, with strict controls to prevent diversion. He warned that economic operators who violate transit regulations would face stiff sanctions.

“Non-compliance by a few operators creates non-tariff barriers and undermines trust. We are determined to streamline documentation and remove avoidable bottlenecks along key corridors such as Illela–Sokoto–Kamba–Niger Republic,” Adeniyi said.

He explained that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s international obligations, including provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantee landlocked countries access to the sea. He noted that Nigeria would continue to support trade facilitation for its landlocked neighbours despite political differences.

“Trade, security and regional stability are interconnected. Our commitment to facilitating trade for Niger will be sustained,” he added.

The Customs boss described the meeting as the start of a renewed phase of cooperation that would help reduce costs, increase trade volumes and make transit corridors more attractive to transport operators.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Niger Republic Customs Administration, Muhammadu Yaqouba, described the visit as a working engagement between two professional Customs services bound by shared responsibilities.

He said the meeting was prompted by the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from the Republic of Benin to Niger, as well as growing security concerns in the region.

“We face common security challenges, including terrorism and banditry. Engagements like this allow us to find lasting solutions through cooperation and coordination,” Yaqouba said.

He disclosed that Niger has intensified counter-terrorism efforts since 2024 through Operation Saran Kasa, involving all national security agencies. He added that scanners have been deployed to inspect all goods entering the country to curb arms trafficking and other cross-border crimes.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Garba Laka, said Nigeria and Niger share deep historical and cultural ties, especially in border communities.

“Insecurity in any part of the Sahel affects all of us. Arms trafficking and the concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles remain major threats that require sustained joint action,” he said.

Major-General Laka disclosed that the Nigerian government accords high priority to Niger-related matters, including trade, energy supply and security, and called for the revival of bilateral security frameworks and joint cross-border operations to address shared threats.