President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has hailed the continental endorsement of Nigeria’s customs modernisation programme following the selection of a Nigerian-owned company’s subsidiary to execute a 20-year, multi-billion-dollar African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Customs Modernisation Project.
The President also commended Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited after its subsidiary, AfriTrade CMP Limited, emerged as the firm selected to implement the ambitious continental initiative aimed at strengthening customs administration and trade facilitation across Africa.
Tinubu’s position was conveyed in a State House statement issued on Monday, August 10, 2026, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The AfCFTA project is expected to deploy both digital and physical infrastructure to improve customs operations, cargo tracking, border management and trade data exchange among participating African countries.
According to the President, the development represents a major milestone for Nigeria because another subsidiary of the same indigenous firm, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, is already spearheading the country’s customs modernisation programme in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service.
He noted that the latest continental recognition underscores Nigeria’s growing reputation as a source of innovative, homegrown solutions capable of transforming trade systems across Africa.
Tinubu said the technologies and systems developed in Nigeria had matured into a model that could be replicated across the continent, adding that the achievement demonstrates the ability of Nigerian institutions and businesses to build the infrastructure needed to support Africa’s single 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 markets.
“Nigerian institutions and businesses can help build the technology and infrastructure that will make that market work. Under our Nigeria First policy, we will continue to create opportunities for capable Nigerian businesses to compete at home, across Africa and globally.
“I commend Bergmans, AfriTrade CMP Limited, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, the Nigeria Customs Service, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the Nigerian professionals whose work has earned this confidence”, the President said.
He further observed that the growing acceptance of Nigeria’s customs modernisation framework reflects the transformation taking place within the Service under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs.
The President maintained that the increasing adoption of technologies developed in Nigeria highlights the importance of sustained investment in digital transformation, institutional reforms and indigenous capacity.
The endorsement received additional backing during a recent visit by AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, to the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters in Abuja, where he inspected the trade modernisation infrastructure already deployed by the Service.
The visit was conducted alongside members of the Senate Committee on Customs, led by Senator Jibrin Isah, after a two-day retreat on customs reforms and modernisation.
During the inspection, Mene described B’Odogwu, Nigeria’s indigenous Unified Customs Management System, as a model that could be adopted by other African countries.
He revealed that the AfCFTA had considered proposals from non-African companies but ultimately opted for an African solution, describing the decision as a strong endorsement of the continent’s technological expertise and innovative capacity.
Isah also expressed support for the initiative after witnessing the system in operation, noting that members of the committee had become advocates of the modernisation programme.
First introduced as a pilot project in October 2024, B’Odogwu has evolved into a key component of Nigeria’s customs reforms, supporting the digitalisation of customs procedures through enhanced cargo tracking, data management, surveillance, risk assessment and non-intrusive inspection systems.
The modernisation programme is also being integrated into the National Single Window platform, launched in March 2026 to serve as a unified digital gateway for cross-border trade processes.
Industry observers believe the integration will further strengthen Nigeria’s trade ecosystem by promoting faster cargo clearance, greater transparency and more efficient trade operations.