Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have signed a new joint trade framework aimed at dismantling trade barriers, enhancing economic cooperation, and fostering deeper regional integration across West Africa.
The agreement was formalised during a high-level bilateral meeting on Saturday at the Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances in Cotonou, bringing together senior officials, customs chiefs, and trade experts from both countries.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, hailed the pact as “a bold step forward in West Africa’s regional economic strategy,” and evidence of strong political will on both sides.
“This signals a new chapter in our bilateral trade relations—one that prioritises progress, inclusiveness, and shared prosperity,” Oduwole said.
She noted that the framework follows a directive issued by Presidents Bola Tinubu and Patrice Talon, who had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the West African Economic Summit. The leaders tasked their technical teams to turn political intentions into actionable policies.
“Our focus now is to break down barriers, streamline logistics, and make trade a real engine of job creation. Customs officials from both nations have shown great synergy, which will now be channelled through four thematic working groups on trade facilitation, enforcement, data sharing, and infrastructure,” she added.
Also speaking, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to implementing the new framework.
“What we’ve achieved is the result of intense technical engagement between Nigeria and Benin’s customs teams over the past 48 hours. We now have a blueprint that aligns with our Presidents’ shared economic vision,” Adeniyi stated.
Adeniyi also revealed that a formal Memorandum of Understanding building on the new framework will be signed by the first quarter of 2026. He highlighted plans to introduce corridor-based solutions to address transit delays and reduce bureaucratic obstacles that often affect small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Trade corridors have been identified, and system interoperability between our two countries has already begun,” he said, thanking Benin Customs Director-General, Mrs. Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, for her cooperation and Benin’s recent endorsement of Nigeria’s leadership at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council meeting in Kinshasa.
As part of the bilateral engagement, both delegations toured the Cotonou Port to assess trade procedures and examine ongoing modernisation efforts. They also visited the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, reaffirming their mutual commitment to efficient and coordinated border management.
