Benin and Nigeria are taking a new step in modernizing their trade exchanges. The two countries have launched the interconnection of their customs systems at the Sèmè-Kraké border post to enable real-time data exchange between their administrations.
The pilot project, launched on Friday, September 11, by the Directors General of Beninese and Nigerian Customs, Raouf Malèhossou Aboudou and Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, aims to speed up the processing of goods and strengthen the effectiveness of controls along the strategic Cotonou-Lagos corridor.
Called the Customs Declaration Exchange System (CDES), the system will allow customs services in the destination country to directly access a declaration registered in the country of departure.
The two administrations will also be able to share data relating to manifests, transit, risk profiles and control alerts. However, this interconnection does not affect national prerogatives. Each administration will retain responsibility for calculating duties and taxes, assessing risks and granting customs clearance.
Reducing Processing Times to Less Than Three Hours
The project addresses one of the main challenges at the Sèmè-Kraké border post: despite the existence of shared infrastructure, Beninese and Nigerian customs still operate on separate IT platforms. The CDES is therefore intended to connect Customs Webb, used by Benin, with B’Odogwu, Nigeria’s customs platform.
The objective is notably to limit the re-entry of data and reduce formalities carried out separately on either side of the border.
The authorities aim to reduce the processing time for goods from the current 12 to 36 hours to less than three hours.