Tinubu hails B’Odogwu as Nigerian firm wins AfCFTA customs project

President Bola Tinubu has hailed the recognition of Nigeria’s indigenous customs modernisation system, B’Odogwu, as a Nigerian-owned firm secures a 20-year, multi-billion-dollar African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) customs modernisation project.

Tinubu also commended Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited and its subsidiary, AfriTrade CMP Limited, for securing the continental project, describing the development as evidence of Nigeria’s growing capacity to develop solutions for the African market.

The President spoke in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Under the project, AfriTrade CMP Limited will deploy digital and physical infrastructure to improve customs processes, cargo tracking, border management and trade-data exchange across participating African countries.

Another subsidiary of Bergmans, Trade Modernisation Project Limited, is responsible for implementing Nigeria’s homegrown customs modernisation programme.

Tinubu said the adoption of the Nigerian model demonstrated that solutions developed locally could be scaled across the continent.

“What has been built and tested in Nigeria is now providing a model for the continent. This is how African integration should work: Africans building African solutions for African opportunities,” he said.

The President said Nigeria should go beyond participating in Africa’s single market by helping to build the technology and infrastructure required to make continental trade work.

“Nigeria must not only participate in Africa’s single market. Nigerian institutions and businesses can help build the technology and infrastructure that will make that market work,” Tinubu said.