The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian technology company, Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, to implement a 20 year customs modernisation project aimed at simplifying cross border trade across Africa.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Digital Trade Forum 2026 in Lagos, establishes a Public Private Partnership (PPP) under which Bergmans will invest an estimated $3.1 billion to deploy digital and physical infrastructure that will harmonise customs processes and improve trade across AfCFTA member states.
Known as the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project (ACMP), the initiative is expected to create an interoperable customs system that enables customs administrations across the continent to communicate seamlessly, reducing trade bottlenecks and supporting the implementation of the continental free trade agreement.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, AfCFTA Secretary General, Wamkele Mene, said the project would simplify cross border trade, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), through the deployment of modern digital customs systems.
According to him, the Secretariat drew inspiration from Nigeria’s ongoing customs modernisation efforts, describing the country’s digital customs model as one that could be replicated across Africa.
“We have observed the excellent work being done in Nigeria in modernising customs systems and optimising revenue collection through digital platforms. The continent has a great deal to gain from this model,” Mene said.
He noted that although several African countries have introduced one stop border posts, many still experience delays because their customs systems are unable to communicate with one another. He said the new platform would improve interoperability, lower the cost of doing business and expand market access across the continent.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, said the initiative would enable customs platforms used by different African countries to exchange information seamlessly, making imports, exports and customs declarations faster and more efficient.
He explained that the project would eliminate many of the bottlenecks created by fragmented customs systems while improving trade facilitation, increasing compliance and boosting government revenue through higher trade volumes.
Adeniyi also expressed confidence that the initiative would integrate with countries implementing National Single Window platforms, adding that it would simplify border procedures and strengthen regional trade.
He further welcomed the selection of a Nigerian company to drive the project, noting that previous customs modernisation efforts across Africa had largely relied on foreign service providers.
Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, Saleh Ahmadu, said the company spent the past five years developing a homegrown customs modernisation platform in Nigeria before attracting the interest of the AfCFTA Secretariat.
According to him, the continental platform will initially be deployed in at least six African countries before expanding across the continent. Once fully operational, the system is expected to serve millions of users through advanced non intrusive inspection technology, integrated data centres and multilingual customs portals that support Africa’s official languages.
The AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project is expected to reduce cargo clearance times, improve transparency, eliminate regulatory fragmentation and strengthen trade revenue collection, supporting the continent’s broader ambition of boosting intra African trade under the AfCFTA agreement.
