By ZAKAA LAZARUS
In line with its modernisation drive and commitment to trade facilitation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has engaged in a high-level consultation with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) on the implementation of the Unified Customs Management System, more commonly known as B’Odogwu.
Following concerns raised by freight forwarders and Licensed Customs Agents regarding delays and demurrage linked to the B’Odogwu rollout, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, met with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, on Monday, 19th August 2025, at the Nigeria Customs Service’s headquarters, Abuja. The engagement provided a platform to deliberate on practical solutions aimed at mitigating the inconveniences experienced by operators.
The Executive Secretary of the Shippers’ Council conveyed industry feedback from freight forwarders and agents, noting operational challenges related to system integration, documentation, and port logistics. He stressed the need for urgent responses to minimise financial losses and prevent disruptions in the cargo clearance chain.
Furthermore, the CGC reaffirmed that B’Odogwu, being 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 this initial phase would be systematically resolved 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 to align processes and address emerging concerns.
The Service also emphasised that while transitional issues are expected in large-scale reforms, measures are being implemented to limit disruptions and shield operators from excessive costs such as demurrage.
It is pertinent to note that the B’Odogwu is an indigenous platform aimed at centralising Customs processes, integrating stakeholders into a unified system while cutting clearance timelines, reducing costs, boosting compliance, and strengthening government revenue.
The NCS, therefore, calls 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.
