AfCFTA signs $3.1bn customs modernisation deal
Analysis based on 47 articles · First reported Aug 04, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026
The deal is expected to boost intra-African trade by modernising customs infrastructure, potentially increasing trade volumes and government revenues across the continent. It also positions Bergmans and its subsidiaries as key players in African trade technology, likely enhancing their business prospects and market reputation.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has formally executed a 20-year, $3.1 billion Concession Agreement with Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited for the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project (ACMP). The signing took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, with AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene and Bergmans Chairman Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu signing. The project aims to deploy digital and physical customs infrastructure across African countries, including non-intrusive inspection technology, data centres, cargo tracking, and multilingual customs portals. It is expected to modernise customs procedures, reduce border bottlenecks, improve revenue collection, and accelerate intra-African trade. The agreement follows an earlier Memorandum of Understanding signed in Lagos in July 2026. Bergmans, through its subsidiary AfriTrade CMP Limited, will finance and implement the project, building on its success with Nigeria's customs modernisation programme, which has tripled revenue and reduced clearance times. President Bola Tinubu welcomed the recognition of Nigeria's homegrown solution, and AfCFTA Secretary-General Mene described Nigeria's B'Odogwu system as a model for Africa. The project has already attracted 50 member countries, and the AfCFTA targets doubling intra-African trade by 2035.
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