As the drive to forestall trade facilitation and eradication of  fraudulent acts amidst smuggling within the Nigeria and Benin  border line continues, the Nigeria Customs Service and Benin Republic Customs administration have launched a joint border management system.

 The system which was launched yesterday in Lagos at the Seme Border  involves data exchange that will aid in eradicating  fraudulent acts and smuggling within their joint border.

During the flag off ceremony jointly performed by Controller General of Nigeria Customs, Col Hameed Ali and Director General of Customs for Benin Republic, Sacca Boco Innousa Charles, both customs heads expressed optimism in the success of the scheme.

The new system is intended to help achieve information and data exchange through an intermediate server managed by Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited.

Business Process explanations made by the technical team revealed that the system will involve information sharing and feedbacks from both ends.

The Nigerian Trade Portal domiciled in Abuja was used to demonstrate the workability of the system and process showing how transit goods declaration made in the Cotonou Port can be assessed at the Nigerian end .

Transit goods destined for Nigeria but landed in the port of Cotonou will have all relevant information about importer, nature of consignment, time of arrival , commodity code, commodity description, number of packages, marks , numbers and details about containers used.

During his remark, Controller General of  Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali  urged members of the import, export and general trading community to make sincere declarations.

As he is optimist that  the new system will prevent abuse and other forms of unlawful acts associated with border businesses.

On his part, Director General of Benin Customs, Sacca Boco Innousa Charles said his country is proud to associate with Nigeria, while lauding the initiative he praised Webb Fontaine being the company providing technical back end support for the project.