The Directorate of Customs Union and Taxation of the ECOWAS Commission organized a meeting on the New ECOWAS Transit Procedure from June 10 to 13, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting aimed to review the implementation of the Abidjan roadmap and assess the progress of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) in member states. Additionally, participants examined the draft transit manual of procedures.
Mr. Salifou Tiemtore, Director of Customs Union & Taxation of the ECOWAS Commission, welcomed participants on behalf of Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture. He emphasized that "the adoption of the Supplementary Act on ECOWAS Community Transit by the Authority of Heads of State and Government in December 2021 introduced major reforms in the operation of the Community transit regime which are meant to enhance the fluidity of cross-border movement of goods in the region." He further added, "The deployment of SIGMAT in Member States is a testament to the Authority’s readiness to leverage Information Communication Technology to improve transit operations in the Community."
Nafi Isiyaku, Comptroller Trade Facilitation, Preferential Trade and AfCFTA of the Nigeria Customs Service and Chairman of the meeting, underscored that transit procedures are a crucial component of customs operations and trade facilitation. He encouraged delegates to propose actionable recommendations to enable member states to leverage economic integration within the region.
The new text provides a legal framework for implementing SIGMAT across ECOWAS member states and replaces the 1982 Convention on Interstate Road Transit (ISRT) with its manual procedures.
Representatives from customs departments across member states and relevant directorates from the ECOWAS Commission attended the meeting.
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