Tinubu Backs $3.1bn AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed support for the companies behind the $3.1 billion customs modernisation project of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing the initiative as capable of accelerating economic progress across the continent.

The President gave the endorsement on Tuesday, in Abuja, during a courtesy visit by Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, a trade, revenue and security strategist, whose company, Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, signed a 20-year concession agreement with the AfCFTA Secretariat for the project.

The agreement, implemented in partnership with AfriTrade CMP Limited, covers all 55 member states of the continental trade bloc and is focused on modernising customs and strengthening trade facilitation across Africa.

According to a statement by the firm, Tinubu commended Ahmadu for designing and leading the execution of the concession, stressing the importance of efficient customs systems to the success of the AfCFTA and the continent’s economic integration agenda.

The president, who has been implementing far-reaching economic reforms in Nigeria, described the project as transformative, noting its potential to accelerate economic growth and improve trade across African countries.

The AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s long-term development framework. It was established to accelerate intra-African trade, strengthen Africa’s position in global markets and create a common framework for trade negotiations.

The continental free trade agreement emerged from a decision adopted by African leaders at the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2012.

The agreement between Bergmans and the AfCFTA Secretariat is expected to build on the company’s experience with customs modernisation in Nigeria.

Bergmans’ work in Nigeria, particularly its involvement in the Nigeria Customs Service Modernisation Project, provided the foundation for its subsequent engagement at the continental level.

Tinubu commended Ahmadu and Bergmans for their contributions to Nigeria’s trade and revenue ecosystem, saying their efforts had advanced the trade value chain while strengthening Nigeria’s role in trade facilitation, border security, and revenue protection.

Ahmadu’s experience in the sector spans about four decades, during which he has worked as a security consultant and systems acquisition specialist across aviation, national security, cybersecurity and intelligence.

Beyond security consultancy, he has also established businesses across various sectors, contributing to job creation and economic activity in Nigeria.

The $3.1 billion concession, covering the 55 AfCFTA member states, places the customs modernisation project at the centre of efforts to improve the movement of goods and strengthen intra-African trade.