Tinubu Hails Nigerian Firm's Multi-Billion Dollar AfCFTA Customs Project Win

President Bola Tinubu has lauded the growing continental recognition of Nigeria’s customs modernization program. He commended the selection of a subsidiary of Nigerian-owned Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited for a 20-year, multi-billion-dollar AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project.

The project, to be implemented through Bergmans’ subsidiary AfriTrade CMP Limited, will deploy digital and physical infrastructure to improve customs processes, cargo tracking, border management, and trade-data exchange across participating African countries. Another Bergmans subsidiary, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, is already implementing Nigeria’s homegrown customs modernization program.

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What has been built and tested in Nigeria is now providing a model for the continent. This is how African integration should work: Africans building African solutions for African opportunities.

Tinubu stated that the development validates Nigeria’s capacity to build homegrown solutions for the wider African market. "What has been built and tested in Nigeria is now providing a model for the continent. This is how African integration should work: Africans building African solutions for African opportunities," he said. He emphasized that Nigerian institutions and businesses can help build the technology and infrastructure that will make Africa's single market work.

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The promise of AfCFTA will be realised when goods can move across African borders faster, at lower cost and with fewer barriers. Nigeria is ready to contribute its experience, innovation and enterprise to that future.

He commended Bergmans, its subsidiaries, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the professionals involved. "The promise of AfCFTA will be realised when goods can move across African borders faster, at lower cost and with fewer barriers. Nigeria is ready to contribute its experience, innovation and enterprise to that future," Tinubu added.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene had previously visited the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters to observe the Nigerian program. He described B’Odogwu, Nigeria’s indigenous Unified Customs Management System, as a model for Africa, noting that AfCFTA chose an African solution over non-African companies offering similar services. Members of the Senate Committee on Customs also witnessed the systems in operation.

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B’Odogwu, Nigeria’s indigenous Unified Customs Management System, as a model for Africa.