By Saidu Jalloh Daily Scope – Freetown
President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday called for stronger use of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and a region-wide shift to digital customs systems, saying outdated border controls cannot match 21st-century threats.
Speaking at the 32nd Conference of Directors General of Customs of the World Customs Organization for West and Central Africa, held at the Freetown International Conference Centre on 7 May 2026, President Bio described customs services as the “frontline of the state itself”.
“Customs is not simply a checkpoint at the edge of the state,” he told delegates. “Most people think about the medicine in pharmacies, the food in markets, and the equipment in hospitals. They do not often consider the line that stands between legitimate goods and what must never cross our borders. You are that line.”
Addressing the theme “A Customs Service that Protects Society Through Its Vigilance and Commitment,” Bio said vigilance must be institutionalised to protect security, economic stability, and public trust. He linked customs work directly to public safety: intercepted counterfeit medicines save lives, seized weapons secure communities, and blocked illicit trade protects economies.
The President warned that West and Central Africa face rising risks from narcotics trafficking, terrorism financing, counterfeit medicines, environmental crime, and arms smuggling. “We cannot confront 21st-century threats with outdated systems or outdated thinking,” he said.
He pressed for urgent digital transformation in customs, citing automation, electronic single-window systems, digital payments, non-intrusive inspections, cargo tracking, and data analytics. “When customs administrations embrace technology, the gains are clear. Automation accelerates legitimate trade while reducing opportunities for criminal activity and corruption,” Bio said.
Speaking as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, he called for tighter regional coordination and real-time intelligence sharing to counter transnational threats. He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to work with partners on systems that match the speed and complexity of current challenges.
The conference gathered customs chiefs, policymakers, and international partners to discuss border security, trade facilitation, and customs modernisation across West and Central Africa.
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