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The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other partners, has intensified efforts to improve cross-border trade through a film screening and dialogue session held in Badagry.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday, themed: “Trade Now: Empowering Cross-Border Traders through the Trade Information Desk (TID),” the Executive Secretary of NSC, Dr. Akutah Pius MON, expressed optimism that the film screening and dialogue would further enhance legitimate cross-border trade at Seme-Krake Border.
Akutah thanked the GIZ and ECOWAS Commission for their strategic roles in organising the event, even as he also appreciated their efforts at the Seme Border to simplify cross-border business.
Earlier, the Director of Consumer Affairs Department, NSC, Mrs. Ify Okolue, said the Council’s Border Information Centre (BIC) at Seme Border provides traders with accurate information on tariffs, documentation, standards, and dispute resolution, reducing delays and trade costs.
Noting that BICs are already operational at Seme-Krake, Jibia-Maradi, Illela-Birnin Koni, and Mfum-Nkot borders, she observed that Idiroko BIC will become operational before the end of the second quarter of 2026.
The Council noted that the initiative aligns with its mandate as Port Economic Regulator and complements other interventions, including Inland Dry Ports, Vehicle Transit Areas, and dispute resolution platforms.
NSC urged traders, especially women and youth, to utilise the centres to enhance transparency, compliance, and regional trade efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Director of Trade, ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kolawole Sofola, stressed the need for regular sensitisation and awareness campaigns on the best approaches, documentation and dispute resolution at the Seme Border area.
Sofola, who was represented by Sarah Okporufe, also observed that the role of e-Commerce, gender-inclusive trade and sustainable practices should be prioritised in the sensitisation campaigns.
The ECOWAS team observed that a lot of traders at the Seme border corridor aren’t exploring the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) to enjoy the export or import of goods that are devoid of Customs tariffs, especially goods that originate from the subregion.
“Another right that traders have is that as soon as they have a valid passport, they can move to any ECOWAS country to reside or transact businesses. There is a process to have a biometric ECOWAS identity card that we expect will be adopted by Nigeria to allow traders and residents enjoy better access for businesses and other purposes,” the ECOWAS Commission representative said.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, the Customs Area Controller, Seme Border Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, assured a maximum of 40 hours for the processing of legitimate imports and exports via the Seme Border.
While observing that trade facilitation is the core philosophy of the NCS under Adeniyi’s leadership, Comptroller Adenuga pledged the NCS’s continuous support at the Seme Border towards facilitating legitimate trade.
He encouraged traders to visit Seme Customs and the BICs to seek information about their trade in order to be informed about the requisite documentation, duties and goods that are prohibited.
“At Seme Customs, we will give you adequate information and adequate support. We want traders and border residents to engage in legitimate trade. We don’t tolerate illegitimate trade. We have engaged with our counterparts in Seme as well as other security agencies to ensure a seamless corridor for trade,” Adenuga said.
The programme featured an exquisitely crafted film in Yoruba and English which captured the trade concerns and expectations for regulatory agencies along the Seme- Border corridor.
