Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have reached a landmark agreement to create a joint trade framework aimed at removing trade barriers, improving logistics, and deepening economic cooperation between the two West African neighbours.
The agreement was announced after a high-level meeting held on Saturday at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Cotonou, Benin. Senior government officials, heads of Customs, and trade experts from both countries attended the session, where they discussed ways to improve cross-border trade and regional integration.
Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, described the new trade framework as a “bold step forward” in West Africa’s effort to build stronger economic ties and achieve shared prosperity. She said the agreement reflects a strong political commitment from both governments.
“This agreement signals strong political will from both countries to pursue a progressive and inclusive trade relationship,” she said.
Oduwole noted that the agreement builds on the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Benin’s President Patrice Talon during the West African Economic Summit. She said the two leaders had instructed their technical teams to turn political commitments into clear, actionable steps.
“Our joint commitment is to dismantle barriers, improve logistics, and ensure that trade becomes a tool for job creation and regional prosperity,” she said.
The agreement includes the formation of four thematic working groups that will focus on trade facilitation, enforcement, data sharing, and infrastructure. According to Oduwole, these groups will work to ensure smoother, faster, and more transparent trade processes across the Nigeria-Benin border.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, said the new framework reflects months of hard work by Customs officials from both countries.
“What we have witnessed today is the culmination of intensive technical meetings between Nigeria and Benin Customs officials over the past 48 hours,” he said. “We’ve developed a joint framework that reflects our Presidents’ shared vision for economic growth.”
Adeniyi added that a more detailed Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by the first quarter of 2026 to further solidify the commitments made.
He said Nigeria Customs is already preparing to implement corridor-based solutions to ease transit and transshipment activities. This, he explained, will help remove bureaucratic obstacles that small and medium businesses often face.
“We’re committed to removing trade barriers that hinder local businesses. New trade corridors have been identified, and connectivity between our systems has already been activated,” Adeniyi said.
He also praised his Beninese counterpart, Mrs. Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, Director-General of Benin Customs, for her continued support. He thanked the Benin government for endorsing Nigeria’s leadership at the recent World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council meeting in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
As part of the agreement’s implementation, officials from both countries toured the Cotonou Port to inspect procedures and identify areas for improvement. They also visited the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, a key symbol of cooperation between Nigeria and Benin.
The newly established framework is expected to enhance transparency, boost technology use in customs operations, and create opportunities for local businesses on both sides of the border.
Stakeholders say the move could strengthen Nigeria’s position in regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and promote job creation, especially for youth and small business owners who rely on cross-border commerce.
This development marks a significant milestone in Nigeria-Benin relations and offers a model for other African nations aiming to build stronger regional economic ties.
