Nigeria, Benin unveil joint trade platform to tackle smuggling, insecurity

Abiola Seun

The Nigeria Customs Service and its Beninous counterpart yesterday, launched a trade platform to curb smuggling and fraudulent acts and smuggling within the two countries.

The system which became operational yesterday will address all issues related to trade, security and revenue through the use of the technology as it will fast track and facilitate trade between the two countries.

Speaking at the official launch at Seme border, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) said the new system will not only increase facilitation of trade but will also stop the problems of fraudulent and illicit trafficking across the border of the two nations.

While urging the stakeholders to take opportunity of the technology to fast track their trade,Ali warned that the system needed to be handled with care in other not to create an avenue for smuggling.

According to Ali, traders will want to circumvent the system if they can’t falsify it.
His words, “Benin Republic and Nigeria are almost like one state divided by imaginary border line. This is a unique development for both countries. This system will weed out all false declarations. If you want your imports and exports to be treated fast, you must make honest declarations. This will bring an end to illicit trafficking.
“Both sides must tighten up against smuggling because lawless people may try to circumvent the system. We must block all entrances that exists where people can smuggle. That will maximise this use of technology. From here we will move to Idiroko, Kamba and Jibya where we share borders with other countries.”

Speaking on the benefits of the system, Ali urged all the trading partners to give the two countries’ customs the maximum cooperation in ensuring that their documentation is correct and perfect.

He therefore, urged importers and exporters to make sincere declarations because the system will not give access for manipulation or falsification.
“Therefore, if you want your import and export to be processed as quickly as it should be, you must also be honest in documenting your goods, that way Customs will be able to push it without hindrance but the moment we go back to the process whereby you falsified your document and undervalue, then there is going to be problem.”
However, Business Process explanations made by the technical team revealed that the system will involve information sharing and feedbacks from both ends.