On the invitation of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Director General of Customs Mr. FONGOD Edwin NUVAGA alongside his peers from the Nigeria Customs Service and Benin Customs took part in a benchmarking mission to the Beitbridge border post at the Zimbabwe-South Africa border from the 23rd to the 27th of July 2026.

Hosted by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), this mission was conceived within the continental framework for deepening intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and specifically within the coordinated effort, pursued with the support of Afreximbank, to facilitate trade within the West African region and between West and Central Africa along the principal corridors of Sèmè-Kraké linking Nigeria and Benin and the Mfum-Ekok linking Nigeria and Cameroon.

Guided by the positive conclusions on the adaptabilty, replication and positive take homes presented by the advance technical team at this visit comprising the Chief of Customs Main House EKOK (Mr.  EDDIA NJENGE), Head of the Studies Unit ( Mr.NDEFRU ANGWAFO ) and  Research Assistant at the IT Division( Mr. KEAMBOU Firmin) and other experts from Benin and Nigeria, the Customs Heads of the three countries committed themselves to collectively and individually champion the development and effective operation of coordinated and One-Stop Border Post arrangements at their strategic frontiers, commencing with the corridors that carry the greatest weight of trade within West Africa and between West and Central Africa. 

The Beitbridge Border Post it should be noted  is the busiest land border crossing in Southern Africa, linking South Africa and Zimbabwe. It is hoped that continued modernisation and adaptability of the Mfum-Ekok joint border post to standard border management technics and procedures would increase our commercial interactions with Africa especially within the context of AfCFTA, secure trade , ease  movements of persons and goods while raising revenue for the State.