by George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service and the Niger Republic Customs Administration have agreed on renewed measures to ease transit bottlenecks, strengthen border security and boost cross-border trade, following the approval by President Bola Tinubu for the provision of safe corridors and guaranteed passage for trucks awaiting clearance to the Republic of Niger.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Friday, February 6, 2026, during a high-level bilateral meeting between the two Customs administrations at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja. The Niger Republic delegation was led by its Director-General of Customs, Muhammadu Yaqouba.
Adeniyi said the presidential approval was aimed at unlocking long-standing transit constraints affecting loaded trucks, particularly goods originating from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports and destined for neighbouring landlocked countries. He explained that the initiative would ensure smoother cargo movement while safeguarding Nigeria’s security and economic interests.
He stated that transit cargo would continue to be processed and moved within 48 hours, stressing that strict safeguards had been put in place to prevent diversion. According to him, operators who violate transit regulations would face stiff sanctions, noting that the actions of a few non-compliant actors often create non-tariff barriers, erode trust and undermine the efficiency of regional trade corridors.
The Customs boss said the Service was determined to streamline documentation processes and eliminate avoidable bottlenecks along key routes, including the Illela–Sokoto–Kamba–Niger Republic corridor, as well as major transit links from Apapa ports and Nigerian airports to neighbouring countries.
Adeniyi congratulated Yaqouba on his appointment, describing the relationship between both administrations as one built on decades of professional collaboration through bilateral engagements and platforms of the World Customs Organisation. He recalled Nigeria’s obligations under international law guaranteeing landlocked countries access to the sea and acknowledged the operational and cost challenges such countries face due to reliance on neighbouring ports and infrastructure.
He reaffirmed Nigeria Customs’ longstanding commitment to facilitating trade for landlocked neighbours such as the Republic of Niger, noting that this commitment would be sustained irrespective of political differences, given the interconnected nature of trade, security and regional stability.
Earlier, the Director-General of Niger Republic Customs, Muhammadu Yaqouba, described the visit as a working engagement between two professional Customs administrations bound by shared responsibilities. He thanked the Nigeria Customs Service for the reception accorded to his delegation, saying it reflected the long-standing fraternity between both countries and their Customs institutions.
Yaqouba said the engagement was prompted by two major concerns, namely the prolonged blockage of trucks transiting from the Republic of Benin to the Niger Republic and the broader security challenges affecting the region. He noted that both countries face common threats from terrorism and banditry, adding that closer cooperation and coordination were essential to finding lasting solutions.
He disclosed that since 2024, the Niger Republic had intensified counter-terrorism efforts through Operation Saran Kasa, a coordinated initiative involving all national security agencies, which he said had recorded notable success. As part of the operation, scanners had been deployed to inspect all goods entering the country, underscoring the critical role of Customs administrations in combating terrorism, arms trafficking and cross-border criminality.
Also speaking at the meeting, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the 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. He described the incident as painful and sympathised with the families of the fallen soldiers.
Laka said Nigeria and Niger share deep historical, cultural and familial ties, particularly among border communities, stressing that insecurity in any part of the Sahel has direct implications for the entire region. He identified arms trafficking, drug smuggling and the concealment of ammunition in cargo vehicles as persistent threats requiring sustained and coordinated action.
He added that the Nigerian government accords high priority to Niger-related matters, including trade, energy supply and security, noting that requests from Niger, especially on petroleum products and gas, receive prompt attention at the highest levels. He called for the revival of bilateral security frameworks such as cross-border right-of-pursuit arrangements, joint operations and deeper inter-agency collaboration.
The meeting underscored the shared resolve of both countries to align trade facilitation with security priorities, as officials emphasised the strategic importance of Nigeria–Niger transit corridors to regional commerce and border stability. Both sides expressed optimism that the understandings reached would translate into practical improvements along the corridors, easing the movement of goods while strengthening joint efforts against cross-border threats.
