10 August, 2026
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has entered into a 20-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited to implement the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project (ACMP). The initiative is aimed at modernising customs administration, facilitating cross-border trade, reducing border bottlenecks and strengthening revenue collection across Africa.
Under the arrangement, Bergmans is expected to invest an estimated US$3.1 billion in deploying digital and physical customs infrastructure across participating African countries. The project builds on an earlier Memorandum of Understanding between both parties and seeks to establish more harmonised and interoperable customs systems across the continent.
AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, described the partnership as an important step towards establishing a modern, technology-driven customs system to support the implementation of the AfCFTA. He highlighted Nigeria’s experience with customs digitalisation as a model for improving efficiency, transparency, revenue protection and the movement of goods across borders.
The project is expected to introduce non-intrusive inspection technologies, integrated data centres and multilingual customs portals, while improving information sharing and interoperability among national customs systems. These measures are intended to reduce cargo clearance times, address fragmented customs procedures and simplify cross-border trade.
The Customs Modernisation Project supports the broader objectives of the AfCFTA to create a single continental market, reduce trade barriers and facilitate the movement of goods, services and investment. By strengthening customs cooperation and digital infrastructure, the initiative is expected to contribute to lower trade costs and more efficient implementation of the AfCFTA across Africa.