The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has disclosed the Service’s plans for the Sèmè–Kraké Joint Border Post between Nigeria and Benin to be treated as a strategic border modernisation programme rather than a collection of isolated repairs.
Adeniyi, made this known on Friday, September 11, 2026, during the launch of the Joint Nigeria-Benin Republic One Stop Border Post .
Adeniyi said the objective is meant to transform the facility into a model, technology-enabled Joint Border Post anchored on Customs interconnectivity, joint risk management, coordinated enforcement, secure infrastructure, harmonised procedures and accountable joint governance.
“What we seek to achieve here is that Sèmè–Kraké be treated as a strategic border modernisation programme, and not as a series of isolated repairs,” he said.
He added that achieving the objective at Sèmè–Kraké would provide a template for modernising other border crossings across the region.
According to him, the existing facility has the necessary physical infrastructure, including lanes, parking areas, offices, a weighbridge and scanner housing, but the two Customs administrations are yet to operate on a fully integrated system.
“Without interconnectivity, this is not a joint border post. It is two border posts sharing a car park,” Adeniyi said.
He explained that the NCS is working to close the systems gap through a common data exchange arrangement with Benin Customs, which would allow declarations lodged on one side to be visible to the other in real time.
The system, he said, would also facilitate the tracking of transit cargo from origin to destination and ensure that risk profiles and enforcement alerts generated by one administration reach its counterpart while they remain useful.
Adeniyi said the modernisation programme would also require the restoration of scanning capability, strengthened access control, surveillance and lighting, as well as the establishment of a standing Nigeria-Benin enforcement and intelligence mechanism.
He further called for harmonised bilingual standard operating procedures covering cargo, passengers, inspection, transit and incident escalation, alongside joint risk management and a properly empowered joint management structure for shared infrastructure.
The NCS boss also announced the launch of a dedicated facility to address the needs of women traders operating along the corridor, with simplified procedures for small consignments, information in languages spoken by traders, accessible points of contact and a channel for reporting poor treatment.
He said the initiative is aimed at bringing more women traders into the formal system while reducing harassment, extortion and delays at the border.
Adeniyi said the initiative forms part of the broader objective of making the Sèmè–Kraké crossing more efficient, transparent and responsive to the needs of legitimate trade.
The Directeur Général of Benin Customs, Col. Raouf Malehhossou Aboudou, expressed support for the Nigeria Customs Service’s efforts to recalibrate joint operations at the Seme-Krake border to facilitate trans-border trade.
Aboudou commended the CGC for what he described as pragmatism and purposefulness in reinventing operational systems to improve cross-border trade.
He assured that the Benin Customs administration would vigorously support the new initiative, adding that its officers and personnel are ready to work with their Nigerian counterparts to achieve the objectives of the joint effort.
His position highlights the importance of stronger bilateral Customs cooperation to the effective operation of the Seme-Krake corridor, where developments on one side of the border have direct implications for trade facilitation and enforcement activities on the other.
The Seme Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, expressed the command’s commitment to supporting efforts to enhance seamless cross-border trade between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
Kaila, in his welcome address, commended the CGC, and his Benin Republic counterpart for their commitment to taking cross-border trade at the Seme-Krake corridor to a new level of renewed energy and vitality.
He said the commitment of both Customs administrations is critical to improving operations at the strategic border crossing, which plays a significant role in Nigeria’s trade relationship with Benin Republic and the wider West African market.
The renewed operational framework places on the Seme Command the responsibility of facilitating legitimate trade while maintaining border security, protecting government revenue and enforcing applicable restrictions.
Nigeria, Benin Customs Move to Transform Seme-Krake to Tech Driven Joint Border Post
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