The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has held a high-level consultation with the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to address operational concerns arising from the rollout of the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as B’Odogwu.
NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in a statement on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
According to him, the meeting, held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Customs headquarters in Abuja, was convened following complaints from freight forwarders and licensed Customs agents over delays and demurrage linked to the new system.
“The engagement provided a platform to deliberate on practical solutions aimed at mitigating the inconveniences experienced by operators,” Maiwada said.
Executive Secretary of the Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, presented industry feedback highlighting challenges with system integration, documentation, and port logistics. He stressed the urgency of addressing these issues to minimise financial losses and avoid disruptions in the cargo clearance chain.
In response, Adeniyi reaffirmed that B’Odogwu—a flagship project under the Customs Modernisation Programme—remains critical to delivering a transparent, technology-driven, and globally competitive clearance process. He assured stakeholders that initial teething problems would be resolved through phased improvements, continuous system upgrades, and sustained stakeholder engagement.
Both agencies underscored the importance of collaboration, pledging to extend consultations to shipping lines, terminal operators, and other stakeholders to align processes and address emerging concerns.
The NCS also emphasised that while transitional issues are inevitable in large-scale reforms, measures are being taken to limit disruptions and shield operators from excessive costs such as demurrage.
Developed as an indigenous platform, B’Odogwu is designed to centralise Customs operations, cut clearance timelines, reduce costs, enhance compliance, and boost government revenue.
The Service urged stakeholders to support the system’s implementation with constructive feedback and cooperation toward building a modernised trade ecosystem that fosters efficiency, competitiveness, and national development.
