His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio used the platform of the World Customs Organisation’s 32nd Conference of Directors General of Customs and the West and Central Africa Region to advocate for stronger regional integration, more effective trade policy, and the rapid modernisation of customs administrations in West Africa. President Bio, who delivered the keynote address under the conference theme “A Customs Service that Protects Society Through Its Vigilance and Commitment,” stated that vigilance in customs administration must be institutionalised as a national obligation to protect security, economic stability, and public trust.
President Bio described customs as a vital but often overlooked pillar of the modern state. “Customs is not simply a checkpoint at the edge of the state; it is the frontline of the state itself,” he said, emphasising that people frequently focus on medicines on pharmacy shelves, food in markets, and hospital equipment without realising the protective line that customs officers represent. He told delegates that every intercepted shipment protects a life: the seizure of counterfeit medicines saves lives, the interception of illegal weapons secures communities, and the prevention of illicit trade protects economies while increasing trust in state institutions.
President Bio warned that West and Central Africa face an expanding and diverse set of transnational threats, including illegal trade, narcotics trafficking, terrorism financing, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, environmental crime, and the smuggling of arms and endangered species. “We cannot confront 21st-century threats with obsolete systems or outdated thinking,” he warned, arguing that secure and transparent borders are critical not only for security but also for long-term commerce, foreign investment, and regional stability.
The urgent need for digital transformation in customs administrations was emphasised throughout the speech. To modernise border management, President Bio advocated for the use of automation, electronic single-window systems, digital payments, non-intrusive inspection technologies, cargo tracking, and advanced data analytics. He emphasised that technology can speed up legitimate trade while making it harder for criminals to exploit flaws: “When customs administrations embrace technology, the benefits are obvious. Automation and digital systems help to accelerate legitimate trade while reducing opportunities for criminal activity and corruption.
President Bio, as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, urged member states to make full and consistent use of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET). He argued that the CET is an effective tool for harmonising trade policy, protecting emerging local industries, reducing harmful tariff inconsistencies, and deepening regional market integration. He also advocated for better regional coordination, capacity building, and real-time intelligence sharing among customs administrations to match the speed and sophistication of modern criminal networks.
The President reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to collaborating with regional partners to develop interoperable intelligence platforms and strengthen cross-border institutional capacity. The conference brought together customs directors general, regional policymakers, and international partners to discuss strategies for improving customs administration, enhancing border security, and advancing trade facilitation. President Bio’s remarks combined an appeal for vigilance and institutional discipline with a clear technological and policy roadmap: align tariffs, modernise systems, and deepen cooperation to protect societies and promote lawful trade across the region.
