The ECOWAS Parliament is calling for the expansion of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) across West Africa to strengthen customs operations, protect government revenue, and facilitate cross-border trade.

The call follows a parliamentary oversight mission to Liberia to assess the implementation, operational effectiveness, and sustainability of SIGMAT, an ECOWAS digital platform that enables customs administrations to exchange transit information electronically and improve the monitoring of goods moving across borders.

As part of the mission, the delegation visited the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Freeport of Monrovia, where members held discussions with customs officials and port operators on SIGMAT implementation, customs procedures, and opportunities to improve the movement of goods in transit.

At the Freeport, the delegation held meetings at APM Terminals and toured the Destination Inspection site under construction by the LRA. The visit provided an opportunity to observe port operations and progress on a facility expected to support customs inspection processes.

Speaking at the end of the oversight mission, Hon. Senou Soklingbe, a member of the ECOWAS Parliament's Committee on Infrastructure and Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Trade, Customs and Free Movement, said the delegation had gained valuable insight into SIGMAT's operations and its advantages over traditional manual customs procedures.

He said the system helps speed up customs activities and improve the tracking of goods, while identifying road infrastructure, connectivity, and training as challenges that need to be addressed.

The delegation also called for SIGMAT's expansion across the ECOWAS region, with one member emphasizing the need to move away from manual customs procedures.

“We should not continue with the manual system,” the parliamentarian said, stressing the importance of digitalizing transit management across West Africa.

Hon. Abdul Kargbo, a member of the ECOWAS Parliament's Sixth Legislature and Committee on Infrastructure, said parliamentary oversight missions allow lawmakers to assess the implementation of regional programs and understand the challenges facing member states.

He said the mission provided an opportunity for parliamentarians to examine how SIGMAT operates in practice and identify areas requiring improvement.

Meanwhile, Hon. Amdiatta Diaby, Chair of the ECOWAS Parliament's Committee on Trade, Customs and Free Movement, called for SIGMAT's expansion to additional member states, including The Gambia, Senegal, and Burkina Faso.

“We want to see the rest of the member states,” Hon. Diaby said, emphasizing the need for broader regional cooperation to improve the movement of goods and people across borders.

She also highlighted the importance of accountability in customs administration, saying public officials must demonstrate commitment and loyalty to the institutions they serve.

“We have to be loyal to our nation. We have to be loyal to the system we are serving,” she said.

Hon. Diaby commended the LRA for its work on SIGMAT and said the delegation would advocate for wider implementation when members returned to their respective countries.

Earlier, LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah highlighted the importance of information-sharing and cross-border cooperation in strengthening customs administration and regional integration. He acknowledged Liberia's progress while pointing to operational challenges involving neighboring countries, particularly Guinea and Sierra Leone.

LRA Commissioner of Customs Saa Saamoi described the visit as the first ECOWAS Parliamentary oversight mission focused specifically on customs operations hosted by the Authority, underscoring its importance to customs modernization and regional cooperation.

Providing further details on SIGMAT, William Duku, Assistant Commissioner for the Technical Operations Division within the LRA's Customs Department, explained that the system digitizes transit procedures and supports transparency, accurate data-sharing, and the faster movement of goods between countries.

“Digitalization is an enemy of corruption,” the LRA representative said, adding that the system promotes transparency and more effective information-sharing.

He said harmonizing transit procedures across ECOWAS member states is essential to strengthening regional economic integration and promoting trade within West Africa.

The delegation also received technical briefings from Assistant Commissioners William L. Buku and Edwin F. Kendema on transit management, revenue assurance, and trade facilitation.

The mission forms part of broader ECOWAS efforts to harmonize customs and transit procedures, strengthen cooperation among member states, protect government revenue, and promote intra-regional trade.