Nigeria, Benin Sign Landmark Trade Pact to Ease Borders

By Oluwakemi Kindness

Nigeria and Republic of Benin have taken a decisive step toward redefining West Africa’s trade landscape with a new joint framework aimed at dismantling cross-border trade bottlenecks and fostering economic integration.

The agreement, reached during a high-level meeting in Cotonou on Saturday, 2 August 2025, signals a shared commitment by both nations to translate political goodwill into actionable trade solutions.

The session, hosted at Benin’s Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances, convened senior government officials, Customs chiefs, and trade experts to map out a collaborative agenda for seamless trade operations.

Customs spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement on Sunday, said the framework charts a bold course for unlocking new economic opportunities by addressing long-standing logistical, infrastructural, and procedural hurdles that hamper trade between the neighbouring countries.

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Jumokke Oduwole, described the agreement as “a transformative pivot from rhetoric to results,” noting that it aligns with West Africa’s broader economic aspirations.

“This framework is a reflection of the strong political will demonstrated by Presidents Bola Tinubu and Patrice Talon. Our technical teams have been mandated to ensure that trade becomes not just a statistic, but a catalyst for job creation, industrial growth, and regional prosperity,” Oduwole stated.

She announced that four thematic working groups—focused on trade facilitation, enforcement, data sharing, and infrastructure development—have been set up to drive implementation, adding that Nigeria aims to evolve from a regional trade player into a global voice for fair and inclusive trade systems.

Also speaking, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, underscored the significance of the joint framework as the culmination of intensive bilateral engagements.

“What we have achieved is more than an agreement; it is a practical roadmap forged through 48 hours of robust technical sessions between Nigeria and Benin Customs. It reflects the shared vision of our Presidents for a borderless economic space where trade drives prosperity,” Adeniyi said.

He revealed that a formal Memorandum of Understanding, building upon the current framework, is projected for signing by the first quarter of 2026.

Adeniyi further announced strategic plans to deploy corridor-based solutions aimed at streamlining transit and transshipment trade routes, particularly to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). “We are removing the red tape that stifles local businesses. Our systems are now interconnected, and new trade corridors have been activated to ease the movement of goods,” he explained.

As part of the engagement, both delegations conducted an assessment tour of Cotonou Port to explore modernisation strategies and enhance port efficiency.

They also visited the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, a symbolic gesture reinforcing their commitment to coordinated border management and deeper integration.

The Nigeria-Benin trade framework is widely seen as a pivotal development that could reshape regional commerce through technology-driven transparency, policy alignment, and a shared resolve to foster sustainable economic growth.