Nigeria, Niger Customs open safe transit corridors to clear trade logjam, tighten border security
Maureen Aguta
Nigeria and the Republic of Niger have agreed on a fresh set of measures to unblock transit bottlenecks, fast-track cross-border cargo movement and deepen joint security cooperation, following high-level talks between the two countries’ Customs administrations in Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of designated safe corridors and safe passage for loaded trucks bound for Niger, a move aimed at easing delays that have crippled transit trade while strengthening oversight along key routes.
Adeniyi spoke on Friday, 6 February 2026, during a bilateral meeting between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Niger Republic Customs Administration, led by its Director-General, Muhammadu Yaqouba, at the Customs House, Maitama.
According to the CGC, the initiative will primarily support the smooth movement of transit cargo from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports to neighbouring countries, without compromising Nigeria’s security or economic interests.
He assured that transit cargoes would continue to be processed and dispatched within 48 hours, stressing that stringent controls are in place to prevent diversion. Economic operators who flout transit regulations, he warned, will face stiff sanctions.
“Non-compliance by a few operators creates unnecessary non-tariff barriers and erodes trust,” Adeniyi said, adding that Customs is determined to streamline documentation and dismantle avoidable bottlenecks along major corridors, including Illela–Sokoto–Kamba–Niger Republic, as well as routes linking Apapa ports and airports to neighbouring states.
The CGC congratulated Yaqouba on his appointment and underscored the long-standing professional ties between both Customs administrations through the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and bilateral frameworks.
He noted that Nigeria’s facilitation of transit trade is also anchored in international law, referencing Articles 124 to 132 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantee landlocked countries access to the sea.
“Landlocked countries face higher transaction costs due to their dependence on neighbouring ports and infrastructure,” Adeniyi said.
“Nigeria Customs has consistently supported trade for our landlocked neighbours, including Niger. This commitment transcends political differences because trade, security and regional stability are deeply interconnected.”
He described the meeting as the start of a renewed phase of cooperation, expressing confidence that sustained follow-up would reduce costs, boost trade volumes and make the Nigeria–Niger corridor more attractive to transport operators.
Earlier, DG Yaqouba described the visit as a practical working engagement between two professional Customs services bound by shared responsibilities. He thanked the NCS for the warm reception, which he said reflected the enduring fraternity between both countries.
The Niger Customs chief said the visit was prompted by two pressing concerns: the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from the Republic of Benin to Niger, and growing security threats across the region.
“We face common security challenges, particularly terrorism and banditry. Engagements like this help us find lasting solutions through coordination and cooperation,” he said.
Yaqouba revealed that since 2024, Niger has intensified counter-terrorism efforts through Operation Saran Kasa, a multi-agency security initiative that has recorded notable successes.
As part of the operation, scanners have been deployed to inspect all goods entering Niger, underscoring the role of Customs in combating terrorism, arms trafficking and cross-border crime.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser, Major-General Garba Laka, congratulated Yaqouba on his appointment and conveyed condolences to the Government and people of Niger over the recent terrorist attack near Niamey Airport.
Describing the incident as deeply painful, he sympathised with the families of the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed the shared resolve of Nigeria and Niger to prevent a recurrence.
“Nigeria and Niger share more than borders; we are one people with deep historical, cultural and familial ties,” Laka said, noting that insecurity anywhere in the Sahel reverberates across the region.
He warned that arms trafficking, drug smuggling and the concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles remain major threats requiring sustained joint action.
The Major-General disclosed that Niger-related matters—ranging from trade and energy supply to security—remain a high priority for the Nigerian government, with requests from Niger, particularly on petroleum products and gas, receiving prompt attention at the highest level.
He called for the revival of bilateral security frameworks, including cross-border right-of-pursuit arrangements, and advocated joint Nigeria–Niger operations and stronger inter-agency collaboration, expressing confidence that the meeting would yield concrete and lasting outcomes.