Official Statement by WAICTANet on the Launch of ECOWAS SIGMAT in Liberia
The West Africa ICT Action Network (WAICTANet) joins regional stakeholders in applauding the official launch of the ECOWAS Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) across Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire — a transformative milestone for regional trade digitization and economic integration.
The launch, marks ECOWAS’ commitment to modernizing West Africa’s transit and customs ecosystem through the seamless, real-time exchange of cargo information between customs authorities. By linking national customs systems, SIGMAT strengthens transparency, reduces delays, improves revenue assurance, and enhances security across borders. The introduction of SIGMAT in Liberia comes at a pivotal moment in the country’s digital transformation agenda, marking the first time Liberia’s customs operations will be fully integrated into a regional digital transit system that accelerates clearance processes, reduces transit times, lowers operational costs for traders and transporters, strengthens anti-fraud and anti-smuggling controls, enhances business competitiveness, and positions Liberia more effectively within AfCFTA trade flows. This development directly supports national priorities around modernizing trade facilitation, automating public services, and deepening economic cooperation across the Mano River Union and the wider ECOWAS region.
Speaking on the importance of this development, Peterking Quaye, Regional Director of WAICTANet, stated, “SIGMAT is not just a customs system — it is a gateway to a more integrated, transparent, and technology-driven West Africa. For Liberia, it accelerates our shift toward digital trade, reduces bottlenecks at border points, and positions our economy to participate competitively in regional and global markets. This is a win for business, for innovation, and for inclusive economic growth.” He further emphasised the system’s relevance for national development, “A modern transit-management system strengthens investor confidence, enhances revenue mobilization, and opens doors for youth and women entrepreneurs engaged in logistics, e-commerce, and digital finance. WAICTANet sees SIGMAT as a foundation that Liberia can build upon to expand its digital public infrastructure and drive sustainable growth.”
The launch of SIGMAT delivers a major boost to regional integration by enhancing cross-border trade among Liberia, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, while aligning national systems more closely with ECOWAS and AfCFTA protocols. By reducing the risks of cargo diversion, transit fraud, and administrative bottlenecks, the system significantly improves predictability and efficiency for transport and logistics companies. It also lays the groundwork for future interoperability with digital identity systems, smart customs solutions, and broader e-trade platforms. Collectively, these advancements strengthen Liberia’s position within the Mano River Union (MRU), fostering smoother trade corridors, deeper economic cooperation, and a more connected sub-regional economy.
WAICTANet urges national and regional stakeholders — including the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), the Ministry of Commerce, transport unions, private-sector logistics actors, and civil society — to collaborate closely to ensure the successful deployment of SIGMAT. This includes promoting effective system rollout and monitoring, strengthening continuous capacity-building for customs officers, border-security personnel, and traders, fostering strong public-private partnerships, and integrating SIGMAT-generated data into broader digital-economy and governance reforms. Such coordinated efforts are essential to maximize the system’s impact and sustain long-term benefits for Liberia’s trade ecosystem. ECOWAS’ deployment of SIGMAT is a bold step toward a more efficient, digitally connected West Africa. As an organization committed to digital inclusion, governance, and innovation, WAICTANet stands ready to support complementary initiatives that enhance Liberia’s participation in secure, modern, and technology-enabled trade systems.
