Nigeria, Niger Customs close ranks on Sahel security, trade facilitation

Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
The Nigeria Customs Service and its Nigerien counterpart have agreed to forge a stronger collaboration towards addressing insecurity in the Sahel Region.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, and the Niger Customs Director-General, Mr. Muhammadu Yaqouba also agreed to remove transit bottlenecks at the borders between the two countries.
The new alliance was forged when the duo held bilateral talks in Abuja, yesterday.

The bilateral engagement was aimed at improving cooperation on the movement of transit goods destined for Niger through Nigeria, enhancing information sharing, addressing security challenges along shared borders.

Speaking at the meeting, the Comptroller-General said that both administrations shared a long history of professional collaboration built through years of engagement at World Customs Organisation (WCO) platforms and bilateral initiatives on modern customs administration.

According to him, “Cooperation between the two Customs services is shaped not only by shared borders but also by international obligations, particularly Nigeria’s responsibilities under Articles 124 to 132 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantee landlocked countries access to the sea.”

CGC Adeniyi acknowledged the operational challenges faced by landlocked nations, explaining that dependence on neighbouring countries’ ports and infrastructure often increases transaction costs and affects competitiveness.

“The Nigeria Customs Service has, over the years, remained committed to facilitating trade for our landlocked neighbours, including the Republic of Niger.
“This commitment will be sustained, irrespective of political differences, because trade, security and regional stability are interconnected.” CGC Adeniyi said.

Addressing concerns around transit bottlenecks, the Comptroller-General disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has approved the provision of safe corridors and safe passage to ease the movement of loaded trucks awaiting clearance.

He assured that cargoes transiting through Nigeria, particularly those from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports destined for neighbouring countries, would continue to be processed and moved within 48 hours, without compromising national security or economic interests.

CGC Adeniyi further revealed that strict measures have been put in place to prevent diversion of transit cargo, warning that economic operators who violate transit regulations would face stiff sanctions.

“Non-compliance by a few operators creates non-tariff barriers and undermines trust. We are determined to ensure compliance, streamline documentation, and remove avoidable bottlenecks along major corridors such as Illela–Sokoto–Kamba–Niger Republic, as well as routes linking Apapa ports and airports to neighbouring countries,” he stated.

Earlier, Mr. Yaqouba, described the visit as a working engagement between two professional Customs administrations bound by shared responsibilities.

According to him, the visit was necessitated by two major challenges, including the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from the Republic of Benin to Niger Republic, as well as prevailing security concerns across the region.

“We face common security challenges, particularly terrorism and banditry, and we believe that engagements like this provide an opportunity to find lasting solutions through cooperation and coordination.” DG Yaqouba said.

He disclosed that Niger Republic has intensified efforts since 2024 to tackle terrorism, including the launch of Operation Saran Kasa, a coordinated initiative involving all national security agencies, which has recorded notable success.

As part of the operation, he said scanners have been deployed to inspect all goods entering Niger Republic, stressing that Customs administrations have a critical role to play in combating terrorism, arms trafficking and cross-border criminality.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Major-General Garba Laka, reaffirmed Nigeria and Niger’s commitment to tackle terrorism in both countries.
Major-General Laka stressed that Nigeria and Niger share more than borders, describing the two countries as one people with deep historical, cultural and familial ties, particularly in border communities where families live and trade across both countries.
“Insecurity in any part of the Sahel affects all of us. Arms trafficking, drug smuggling and the concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles remain major threats that require coordinated and sustained action,” he said.

He disclosed that the Government of Nigeria places high priority on Niger-related matters, including trade, energy supply and security, noting that requests from Niger, particularly on petroleum products and gas, receive prompt attention at the highest level.

The Major-General advocated the revival of bilateral security frameworks such as cross-border right-of-pursuit arrangements, stressing that such mechanisms are essential for effectively combating terrorism and organised crime.

He called for joint Nigeria–Niger operations and sustained inter-agency collaboration, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the meeting would be translated into concrete actions.

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