Customs, AfCFTA Strengthen Partnership to Boost Intra-African Trade, Data Integration

Customs, AfCFTA Strengthen Partnership to Boost Intra-African Trade, Data Integration

...AfCFTA Endorses Nigeria’s C-PACT Initiative Ahead of Abuja Conference

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) strong commitment to working closely with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to deepen trade integration across Africa, enhance data reliability, and tackle systemic barriers limiting intra-African commerce.

Adeniyi made this known on Monday, November 3, 2025, during a courtesy visit to the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana, where he met with top officials to discuss collaborative strategies for boosting Customs efficiency and supporting the successful implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

He commended the Secretariat for its consistent efforts in engaging Customs administrations, development partners, and economic operators across the continent to unlock Africa’s trade potential. The Customs boss noted that the collaboration between both institutions had paved the way for the forthcoming Customs-Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Conference, slated for Abuja from November 17 to 19, 2025.

“The AfCFTA Secretariat has played a vital role in mobilising African Customs and economic operators. We’ve had several engagements and now have a clear direction for the upcoming C-PACT Conference in Abuja,” Adeniyi said.

He emphasised that one major outcome of these discussions was the consensus that Customs administrations must take the lead in resolving long-standing gaps in trade data accuracy across the continent.

“We have heard consistent calls for Customs to play a leading role in addressing deficiencies in trade data. This is a challenge I have accepted to champion in collaboration with my colleagues,” he added.

Adeniyi further stressed the need to strengthen the existing coordination framework that brings together all African Customs heads under the AfCFTA structure, noting that institutionalising the C-PACT framework within the Secretariat would promote policy consistency and long-term cooperation.

He identified poor data integration, fragmented policies, and weak inter-agency collaboration as critical hurdles that must be overcome to unlock Africa’s full trade potential. Adeniyi expressed confidence that the C-PACT Conference would establish a new benchmark for Customs collaboration and data-driven trade facilitation across the continent.

In his response, AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its leadership and proactive role in promoting continental Customs cooperation.

Mene highlighted key challenges confronting intra-African trade, including inadequate logistics infrastructure, high transportation costs, and limited coordination among agencies. He noted that the Secretariat is working with relevant stakeholders—especially the private sector, Customs administrations, and ministries of trade—to strengthen collaboration and ensure sustainable trade facilitation.

The AfCFTA Chief further revealed that the Secretariat is considering making the C-PACT Conference an annual event to sustain dialogue on Customs cooperation, data integration, and trade facilitation.

He also referenced the Secretariat’s partnership with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) aimed at advancing private sector inclusion, implementing e-certificates of origin, and developing a Single Bond Guarantee Scheme to enhance cross-border efficiency under the AfCFTA’s Annex on Transit.

Mene underscored the vital role of Customs administrations in driving AfCFTA’s implementation, urging them to actively participate in shaping the continent’s trade data systems, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) frameworks, and overall trade statistics management.

“Customs remains the backbone of AfCFTA implementation. Strengthening our collaboration will ensure that Africa speaks with one data voice in trade,” Mene concluded.