Customs CGC Launches SIGMAT Digital Standard Connectivity for Benin Republic, Nigeria’s Seme Joint Border Post
By Ovie Edomi
History was made on May 19th when the Nigeria’s Customs Service Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, his counterpart and Director General (DG) Benin Republic Customs Administration, Mrs. Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi as well as the ECOWAS Director of Trade Union, Salifou Tiemtore, came together along side top officials of the Customs from both countries to officially launch the deployment of SIGMAT connectivity between Benin and Nigeria, Seme Krake Joint Border Post in Nigeria.
At the official launch of the deployment of SIGMAT connectivity, both the Nigeria Customs Service and the Customs Administration of Benin Republic expressed readiness to address diversion and fraud along the Nigeria-West corridor with the deployment of the SIGMAT digital standard.
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service says the interconnected system is for the management of goods in transit. Furthermore, he disclosed that the two countries intend to use the platform to foster inter-agency coordination and collaboration while also addressing cross-border issues affecting the two Customs Administrations. According to Adeniyi,
“SIGMAT is aimed at digitalizing and harmonizing Customs transit operations across our member states.The concept was conceived over a decade ago and the electronic platform was designed to achieve these objectives. Primarily, we want to improve the visibility of goods in transit. We want to combat diversion and fraud along the Abidjan-Lagos Highway Corridor”
Adeniyi also disclosed that with the SIGMAT application standing alone, plans are on to expand the deployments of SIGMAT to additional border locations, particularly Idiroko in Ogun state and Chikanda, katsina state. Even then, the Nigeria Customs Comptroller-General, says SIGMAT would remain a direct connectivity to ECOWAS hub.
Furthermore CGC noted that SIGMAT is Nigeria’s strategic ambition to align with regional digital customs standards and to modernize the globalization of our trade portfolio.
On her part, Mrs. Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, Director General (DG) of the Benin Republic Customs Administration, noted that the platform will reduce delay and enhance trade facilitation between both countries. Furthermore she noted that the system will solidify and facilitate the move of the goods from Abidjan, which is already in the SIGMAT system all the way to Benin and then to Nigeria, and also when goods are coming from Nigeria to use the corridor, SIGMAT”
Apart from the technical launch of the SIGMAT platform, the Customs Officers Wives Association, COWA used the opportunity to officially commission renovated COWA building. According to Seme Customs Area Comptroller, Comptroller, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, the commissioning of the building is for professional bonding as well as to foster family bond among officers working in Seme command.
On her part, Seme COWA chair person and wife of the Seme Customs Command Comptroller, Mrs Oramalugo, described the CGC, Nigeria Customs Service as a father who has displayed so much exemplary characteristics and fairness to all, and by that show of patriotism,fairness, professionalism and support for COWA has performed giant strides in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service. This much was re-emphasized by Comptroller Oramalugo when he said that under the present Comptroller-General of Customs, it is not who you know but one’s commitment to hard work and the Service.
In his response, the CGC noted ” Merit shapes what we do”. Furthermore he said ” Your track record in the Service will speak for you” He further described himself as a product of fairness.
No wonder, Seme Customs spokesman, Isa Suleiman says the Comptroller-General, Wale Adeniyi has written his name in gold
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