Nigeria Reopens Benin Border After Seven Years, Boosting Agricultural Trade

News in brief:

-The federal government has reopened the Tsamiya Border Corridor to revive agricultural exports to the Benin Republic.

-Trade will operate under enhanced monitoring systems to curb smuggling and protect domestic producers.

Nigeria has reopened the Tsamiya Border Corridor in Kebbi State, restoring a strategic land route for agricultural exports to the Benin Republic after seven years of closure.

The reopening, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, reverses the 2019 shutdown introduced under the late former President Muhammadu Buhari to combat smuggling and stimulate domestic agricultural production.

For farmers and agro-traders in Nigeria’s northern belt, the move signals renewed access to regional markets and improved cross-border commodity flow.

Key Outlet for Northern Farm Produce

Tsamiya, located in the Bagudo Local Government Area and linked to Segbana in Benin, has historically functioned as a major export corridor for agricultural commodities.

Produce expected to resume movement through the route includes onions, garlic, white beans, dry pepper, maize and sorghum, commodities cultivated extensively across northern Nigeria.

Before the closure, the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria relied heavily on the corridor to transport perishable produce into neighbouring West African markets. The disruption had constrained export volumes, contributed to gluts in local markets and increased post-harvest losses.

Over 2,000 Trucks to Resume Transit Under Tighter Controls

According to the Nigeria Customs Service, more than 2,000 trucks that have been stranded at the border for months can now proceed under a strengthened compliance regime.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated that the corridor will operate under enhanced surveillance, ICT-driven tracking systems and stricter profiling of licensed customs agents to prevent diversion of goods in transit.

In May 2025, Nigeria and the Benin Republic launched the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) to digitalise and harmonise cross-border trade processes between both countries.

Under the new framework, any truck found outside designated transit routes will be confiscated, reinforcing enforcement against smuggling networks.

Balancing Trade Facilitation with Security

Adeniyi emphasised the need for coordinated security cooperation between Nigeria and Benin, noting that organised smuggling networks operate across borders through shared resources and structured collaboration.

He disclosed that the reopening has the backing of both President Tinubu and President Patrice Talon of Benin, alongside calls for stronger bilateral security alliances.

The development coincides with recent engagements between Nigerian authorities and officials from the Agency for Promotion of Investment and Export in Bénin, who expressed optimism about expanding lawful trade flows.

Opportunity to Reduce Post-Harvest Losses and Boost Exports

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State pledged logistical and infrastructural support to customs and security agencies, while stressing the need to ensure that border communities benefit from sustained development.

In 2024, authorities announced the commencement of trade activities at the Tsamiya Dry Port to coordinate cargo movement, further positioning Kebbi as a logistics hub for agricultural exports.

Stakeholders believe the reopening could unclog regional trade routes, reduce post-harvest losses and improve price stability for farmers, provided enforcement mechanisms remain firm and transparent.

For Nigeria’s agricultural sector, the corridor’s revival represents not only restored market access but also a test case for balancing trade liberalisation with border control in a bid to strengthen regional food trade integration.