In line with its modernisation drive and commitment to trade facilitation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has held high-level consultations with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on the implementation of the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as B’Odogwu.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the NCS National Spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that the meeting followed concerns raised by freight forwarders and Licensed Customs Agents regarding delays and demurrage linked to the B’Odogwu roll-out.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, met with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, on Monday at the NCS headquarters in Abuja to deliberate on practical solutions aimed at mitigating the inconveniences experienced by operators.
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The Executive Secretary of the Shippers’ Council conveyed industry feedback from freight forwarders and agents, highlighting operational challenges related to system integration, documentation, and port logistics.
He stressed the need for urgent action to minimise financial losses and prevent disruptions in the cargo clearance chain.
The CGC reaffirmed that B’Odogwu, as a flagship project under the Customs Modernisation Programme, remains critical to achieving a transparent, technology-driven, and globally competitive clearance process.
He assured that challenges in the initial phase would be systematically addressed through structured stakeholder engagement, phased improvements, and continuous system upgrades.
With this engagement, the NCS and NSC underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and collaboration, noting that further consultations with stakeholders—including shipping lines and terminal operators—would continue in order to align processes and address emerging concerns.
The Service also emphasised that while transitional issues are common in large-scale reforms, measures are being implemented to limit disruptions and shield operators from excessive costs such as demurrage.
It is worth noting that B’Odogwu is an indigenous platform designed to centralise Customs processes, integrate stakeholders into a unified system, shorten clearance timelines, reduce costs, boost compliance, and strengthen government revenue.
The NCS therefore called on stakeholders to support the implementation process, provide constructive feedback, and partner with Customs in building a modernised trade ecosystem that promotes efficiency, competitiveness, and national development.
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