Despite sharing a critical physical trade corridor, cross-border movements between Nigeria and Cameroon continue to suffer from redundant customs checks. In addition, transit friction and costly administrative delays at the border heavily restrict economic growth.

To solve this, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Cameroon Customs Administration launched a joint assessment exercise at the Mfum-Ekok One-Stop Border Post. This strategic gateway links Cross River State, Nigeria, with Ekok in South-West Cameroon.

Led by Nigeria’s Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and Cameroon’s Director General of Customs, Fongod Nuvaga, the high-level meeting launched the Mfum-Ekok Border Modernisation Initiative. Consequently, the initiative focuses on digitising customs workflows, establishing real-time data sharing, and harmonising joint risk-management systems. Furthermore, they are finalising an operational agreement benchmarked against regional best practices like the Beitbridge Border Post.

The Mfum-Ekok One-Stop Border Post corridor serves as a major trade highway connecting West Africa and Central Africa. Historically, non-tariff barriers, duplicate physical inspections, and non-digitised documentation along African border posts add up to 40% to the total logistics cost of intra-African trade. In contrast, more integrated global regions experience costs of less than 10%.

Therefore, operationalising a true One-Stop Border Post with joint inspections and real-time electronic data sharing removes duplicated customs checks. As a result, this system drastically reduces cargo dwell times and cuts transport costs. Streamlining this strategic gateway unlocks a major trade artery between Nigeria and Central Africa. Consequently, it enables the faster movement of agricultural produce, manufactured goods, and commercial traffic under preferential tariff regimes.

However, deep-seated non-tariff barriers, security concerns, and regulatory gaps between two distinct Regional Economic Communities persist. Achieving seamless joint operations requires surmounting challenges related to fragmented digital infrastructure. Additionally, agencies must overcome friction among multiple border control bodies and physical connectivity bottlenecks along secondary feeder roads leading to the border post.

Importantly, this cross-border initiative directly supports the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), specifically its Annexes on Trade Facilitation, Customs Cooperation, and Transit Trade. It also serves as a critical operational bridge between two major Regional Economic Communities (RECs). These are the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The initiative is proudly supported by technical and financial partners including Afreximbank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The modernisation project promises predictable clearing schedules, reduced border dwell times, and lower shipping costs. For informal cross-border traders and small-scale entrepreneurs—predominantly women—a streamlined “single check” system reduces vulnerable exposure to informal fees, harassment, and lengthy physical delays. However, this is provided that simplified trade regimes (STR) are incorporated alongside digital customs reforms.

Ultimately, the joint assessment of the Mfum-Ekok One-Stop Border Post marks a concrete step toward transforming cross-border trade between West and Central Africa. Moving forward, turning this assessment into long-term commercial efficiency will depend on the rapid signing of the joint operational agreement, consistent infrastructure upkeep, and genuine inter-agency coordination on both sides of the border.