Benin and Nigeria are embarking on a new era of enhanced economic cooperation, focused on cross-border trade, security, and customs regulation.
Cotonou, August 2, 2025 – In a joint statement issued following a bilateral meeting held in Cotonou, the governments of Benin and Nigeria announced an agreement to revitalize their commercial cooperation, with a particular focus on facilitating trade at the Sèmè-Kraké border post. This move marks a major turning point in the economic relations between the two West African neighbors, which have long been marked by tensions stemming from Nigeria’s unilateral closure of borders in 2019.
Objective: Facilitate trade and secure borders
Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, and Beninese Minister of Economy and Finance, Romuald Wadagni, reaffirmed their commitment to creating a secure, transparent, and mutually beneficial commercial environment for both countries. Key measures agreed upon include:
– Establishment of a joint technical committee to oversee commercial exchanges;
– Regulation of goods passage at the Sèmè-Kraké border;
– Strengthening the fight against customs fraud, smuggling, and fuel trafficking;
– Collaboration on cross-border security efforts, including information sharing and joint training of agents.
A strategic partnership within the framework of ECOWAS and AfCFTA
This rapprochement aligns with the objectives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at facilitating intra-African trade and building a competitive common market.
Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy with over 220 million inhabitants, seeks to enhance control over its commercial flows. Meanwhile, Benin aims to revitalize the autonomous port of Cotonou, a significant portion of whose activities are reliant on transit to Nigeria.
A test for regional integration
Beyond political announcements, the success of this revival will depend on the effective implementation of commitments. The main challenge lies in coordinating customs administrations, security forces, and logistical actors, in a regional context still marked by insecurity and informal flows.
The dynamic reopening of cooperation between Cotonou and Abuja could serve as a model for other West African corridors, provided that intentions are translated into concrete actions, particularly in terms of digitizing customs procedures and enhancing transparency.
