The European Union (EU) has called on Nigeria and nine other neighboring African countries to initiate road networks across specific zones to curb smuggling activities in the region under the Gateway Corridor project.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Nigerian Customs Service via a post on its official X handle on Friday.
The EU representative Louis Jacques Blondaiu and his team had met with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, earlier in the week.
The statement further states that the Getaway Corridor operation also intends to foster trade facilitation, apart from helping to reduce illicit activities at borders and dissuading smuggling operations within this subregion.
The statement read in part “The project, titled Getaway Corridor, according to EU representatives Louis Jacques Blondiau and Thierry Thimon, is set to cover 10 countries, including Nigeria, to curb illicit activities on the borders and suppress smuggling operations.
“Louis Jacques Blondiau, the leader of the group, emphasised that the Getaway Corridor project entails the development of a road infrastructure network designed to serve as a gateway for combating smuggling activities while promoting trade facilitation.”
The statement outlined the operational framework of the project and indicated that each of the ten participating African countries would designate a specific area for the implementation of the project.
Furthermore, four main phases of the Getaway Corridor initiative are designed to ensure that regional needs and priorities are met: identification, implementation, evaluation, and project management.
In his remark, Adeniyi noted the potential of the EU initiative to significantly strengthen the fight against crime in Nigeria; he assured of the support of the Nigeria Customs and other relevant authorities to guarantee a smooth implementation of the project.
He said “The proposed Getaway Corridor project marks a significant step towards strengthening international cooperation in combating illicit flows and promoting trade security within the region. With the commitment of both the EU and Nigerian authorities, it is poised to make a meaningful impact in curbing illegal activities and fostering sustainable development,”
