By Joy Enamuna
The Nigeria Customs Service and its Niger Republic counterpart have agreed to intensify efforts to ease cross-border trade and enhance regional security, following a high-level bilateral meeting in Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the provision of safe corridors to facilitate the movement of loaded trucks awaiting clearance to Niger Republic.
Speaking at the meeting held at the Customs House, Maitama, Mr Adeniyi said the initiative aims to facilitate transit cargo from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports destined for neighbouring countries while safeguarding national security and economic interests.
He assured that such cargoes would be processed and moved within 48 hours, adding that strict measures have been put in place to prevent diversion of transit goods.
“Non-compliance by a few operators creates non-tariff barriers and undermines trust. We are determined to streamline documentation and remove avoidable bottlenecks along major corridors,” Mr Adeniyi said.
He noted that both administrations share a long history of professional collaboration through World Customs Organisation platforms and bilateral engagements.
The customs chief said Nigeria’s commitment to facilitating trade for landlocked neighbours, including Niger Republic, is shaped by international obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees landlocked countries access to the sea.
“This commitment will be sustained irrespective of political differences, because trade, security and regional stability are interconnected,” he added.
The Director-General of Niger Republic Customs Administration, Muhammadu Yaqouba, described the visit as a working engagement between two professional customs administrations bound by shared responsibilities.
He said the visit was necessitated by the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from Benin Republic to Niger and prevailing security concerns across the region.
“We face common security challenges, particularly terrorism and banditry. Engagements like this provide an opportunity to find lasting solutions through cooperation,” Mr Yaqouba said.
He disclosed that Niger has intensified efforts since 2024 to tackle terrorism, including the launch of Operation Saran Kasa, a coordinated initiative involving all national security agencies.
The National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Maj.-Gen. Garba Laka, congratulated Mr Yaqouba on his appointment and extended condolences to Niger over the recent terrorist attack near Niamey Airport.
He stressed that Nigeria and Niger share deep historical, cultural and familial ties, particularly in border communities.
“Insecurity in any part of the Sahel affects all of us. Arms trafficking, drug smuggling and concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles remain major threats requiring coordinated action,” Maj.-Gen. Laka said.
He disclosed that the Federal Government places high priority on Niger-related matters, including trade, energy supply and security, and advocated the revival of bilateral security frameworks such as cross-border right-of-pursuit arrangements.
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