The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, says Nigeria and Benin Republic have agreed to have a single entry declaration form for both countries to be used for border crossing.
The Kebbi Area Controller of NCS, Iheanacho Earnest-Ojike, made the disclosure shortly after a meeting between the NCS and representatives of Benin Republic.
The meeting, which was behind close doors, was held at Anguwar Sule Wara, a border town in Benin Republic, on Saturday.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, Mr Earnest-Ojike recalled that on May 21, a maiden meeting between foreign ministers of both nations dwelled on improving free flow of trade and commerce.
”The meeting aimed at bringing the border crossing between Tsamiya in Nigeria and Anguwar Sule Wata in Benin Republic back to live through infrastructural development, in line with renewed hope initiative of President Bola Tinubu.
“The meeting was also to strengthen social and economic interaction as well as expand trade and commerce between the citizens of the two countries,” he said.
According to him, the Saturday meeting was a continuation that produced a final agreement to the previous one.
“Now, we have agreed to have a single entry declaration form that citizens of both countries will use for border crossing.
“Both countries are signatories to World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO), which have the principles of border post,” he said.
Mr Earnest-Ojike added that the two countries would establish a joint- border agency inspection for goods and persons, declaring that “it is going to be a one-stop border post at the Segbana border”.
The controller expressed optimism that the agreement reached would advance the course of regional integration between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
