President Bio Calls for Stronger ECOWAS Trade & Border Integration
Freetown International Conference Centre, Freetown, Thursday 7 May 2026 –
His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, addressed the 32nd Conference of Directors General of Customs of the World Customs Organization and the West and Central Africa Region, where he called for the effective use of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff to strengthen regional integration, protect local industries, and facilitate lawful trade across West Africa.
Delivering his keynote address on the theme, “A Customs Service that Protects Society Through Its Vigilance and Commitment,” President Bio described vigilance in customs administration as a national obligation that must be institutionalised to safeguard security, economic stability, and public trust.
He emphasized that customs services remain one of the most important, yet often overlooked institutions of the modern state, serving as the frontline of national protection and economic governance.
“Customs is not simply a checkpoint at the edge of the state; it is the frontline of the state itself,” President Bio stated. “Most people think about the medicine in pharmacies, the food in markets, and the equipment in hospitals, but they do not often consider the line that stands between legitimate goods and what must never cross our borders. You are that line.” he continued.
The President noted that behind every intercepted shipment is a life protected, stressing that the seizure of counterfeit medicines saves lives, the interception of illegal weapons secures communities, and the prevention of illicit trade protects economies and strengthens public confidence in state institutions.
He warned that West and Central Africa continue to face growing threats from illicit trade, narcotics trafficking, terrorism financing, counterfeit medicines, environmental crimes, and the smuggling of arms and endangered species.
“We cannot confront 21st-century threats with outdated systems or outdated thinking,” he cautioned, adding that secure and transparent borders are essential for sustainable commerce, investment, and regional stability.
President Bio stressed that digital transformation within customs administrations is no longer optional, but urgent and necessary. He highlighted the importance of automation, electronic single-window systems, digital payments, non-intrusive inspections, cargo tracking, and advanced data analytics in modernising border management systems.
“When customs administrations embrace technology, the gains are clear. Automation and digital systems accelerate legitimate trade while reducing opportunities for criminal activity and corruption,” he affirmed.
As Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bio called for stronger regional coordination and intelligence sharing among member states to address increasingly sophisticated transnational threats.
He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to working collectively with regional partners to build real-time intelligence-sharing systems capable of matching the speed and complexity of emerging security and trade challenges.
The conference brought together Directors General of Customs, regional policymakers, and international partners to discuss strategies for improving customs administration, strengthening border security, and advancing trade facilitation across West and Central Africa.
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