The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has signed a 20-year, $3.1 billion concession agreement with Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited to modernise customs administration across Africa as part of efforts to boost intra-African trade, improve revenue collection and eliminate border bottlenecks.
The agreement was signed on Thursday in Abuja by the AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, and the Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, Saleh Ahmadu.
The deal will facilitate the implementation of the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project, an initiative aimed at deploying advanced digital technologies and modern customs infrastructure to support the continent’s free trade agenda.
It follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between both parties weeks earlier to collaborate on transforming customs operations across Africa.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mene described the agreement as a significant milestone in Africa’s drive to establish an integrated, technology-driven trading system capable of facilitating seamless cross-border commerce.
He explained that the project would provide the digital infrastructure required to implement AfCFTA protocols on customs harmonisation and trade facilitation, enabling customs administrations across the continent to improve operational efficiency, strengthen revenue collection and facilitate the movement of goods without placing additional financial burdens on member states.
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According to Mene, about 50 African countries have already signed on to the initiative.
He noted that the project supports AfCFTA’s vision of creating a single African market of approximately 1.3 billion people with a combined Gross Domestic Product estimated at $3.4 trillion.
“The Nigerian experience demonstrated that technology can transform customs administration. The success recorded gave the AfCFTA Secretariat the confidence to replicate the model across the continent,” Mene said.
He attributed the initiative to the successful customs modernisation reforms implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service through Bergmans’ digital solutions, which he said improved cargo clearance, enhanced transparency and increased government revenue.
“The achievements recorded in Nigeria convinced us that this initiative can deliver similar results across Africa. This is an achievement that should make Nigerians and Africans proud,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, Ahmadu described the agreement as the beginning of a long-term investment that would transform customs administration across participating African countries.
He disclosed that the company would fully finance the $3.1 billion project under the concession arrangement and deploy digital and physical customs infrastructure to modernise border operations, improve trade corridors and simplify cross-border movement of goods.
According to him, the project will introduce advanced non-intrusive inspection technology, integrated data centres and multilingual customs portals capable of supporting Africa’s official languages.
“Our experience in Nigeria has achieved remarkable success and attracted international recognition. It has become a model for customs modernisation across Africa, and we are committed to delivering a world-class customs ecosystem that supports the continent’s economic integration,” Ahmadu said.
The AfCFTA, which officially commenced trading in January 2021, is the world’s largest free trade area by the number of participating countries, bringing together 54 African nations under a single market.
The agreement is expected to support the progressive elimination of tariffs, remove non-tariff barriers and facilitate the free movement of goods, services and investments across the continent.
Despite increasing trade under the agreement, experts have continued to identify inefficient customs procedures, fragmented border systems and prolonged cargo clearance processes as major obstacles to fully realising the benefits of the continental free trade pact.
The Customs Modernisation Project is expected to address these challenges by harmonising customs operations, strengthening information sharing, improving risk management, accelerating cargo clearance and enhancing revenue collection across participating countries, while reducing the cost of doing business across Africa.
