‘24-hour Cargo Clearance Achievable’

The deputy comptroller general of Customs (DCG) in Charge of ICT and Training, Kikelomo Adeola, has said that less than 24- hour cargo clearance was achievable with the integration of terminal operators into B’Odogwu.

Adeola made the disclosure during a sensitisation programme with seaport terminal operators and Bonded Terminal operators held in Lagos on Monday.

She stressed the need to have infrastructure and network adding the the infrastructure on the trade modernisation project was almost completed to be rolled out.

Adeola said that the modernisation project was designed to address long standing challenges and to improve Nigeria’s position in the global trade.

“The project will fully automate customs process and administrative functions while the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers as well as officers of the Trade Modernization Project (TMP) will create ICT solutions aligned with global best practices.

“The NCS Modernisation Project was approved in May 2022 and ratified by the Federal Executive Council in April 2023. This initiative is a 20-year concession agreement under Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

“The core objective of the sensitisation includes: addressing challenges such as smuggling, under-declaration administrative processes and inadequate monitoring systems.

“Customs introduced B’Odogwu for non physical inspection but scanners in risk control centres, data collation and capacity initiative for officers of NCS and stakeholders,” Adebola said.

She said that one of the notable goals was achievable at Port and Terminal Multi Service PTML Customs Command in October 2024 when the first Single Goods Declaration (SGD) was made with the introduction of B’Odogwu.

Adeola said that the assessment was successfully generated and payment was made on November 1, 2024.

She commended the Nigerian Ports Authority for granting the customs service the right of way which had made the Trade Modernisation Project achievable in Apapa and TINCAN ports.

Adeola said that less than 24-hour cargo clearance would be achieved with full implementation of B’Odogwu under the trade modernisation project.

The NCS had made significant steps toward modernising its operations, and launched the “B’Odogwu Software” at Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) in Lagos.

The initiative, aimed at enhancing efficiency and streamlining trade facilitation was announced by Comptroller General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi in October, 2024 while inaugurating the software.

Adeniyi emphasised the importance of the new Unified Customs Management System in advancing the service’s goals.

He said that the inauguration of B’Odogwu marked a major milestone in the service journey to modernise Nigeria’s customs operations and align with global best practices.

Adeniyi described B’Odogwu as a core part of the NCS Modernisation Project, designed to address long-standing challenges and improve operational efficiency.

The Customs boss attributed the successful realisation of the project to finance minister Wale Edun, who played a pivotal role in implementing initiatives that supported the rollout.

Adeniyi noted that the legal framework, established in Sections 28 and 29 of the Nigeria Customs Act, empowers the NCS to develop and deploy electronic systems that ensure transparency and engage stakeholders.

“The launch of B’Odogwu aligns with the strategic objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of NCS for the benefit of Nigeria.

“Challenges faced with previous software systems, such as ASYCUDA and NICIS II, which often caused network downtime and led to costly delays for customers,” Adeniyi said.

The managing director, Trade Modernisation Project, (TMP), Hajia Jumai Ajijola commended the Nigeria Customs for collaborating with the company in enhancing global best practices in the customs operations.

Ajijola commended the commitment and resilience of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, adding that his coordination was instrumental to the quick adaptation of the technology by the stakeholders.

She said that her company was ready to support customs to sensitise its stakeholders to enable them achieve seamless operation while integrating to trade modernisation projects.

Ajijola said that less than 24-hours cargo clearance was achievable with the integration of B’Odogwu of customs initiative.

The Customs Area Controller, Tincan Customs Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, welcomed the stakeholders to the sensitisation programme and urged them to fully integrate to the B’Odogwu to reduce time of cargo clearance and improve turnaround time of vessels.

The chairman Bonded Terminal Operator in Nigeria, Gerald Mbamalu, commended NCS for the B’Odogwu initiative adding that it would be nice if the B’Odogwu worked professionally without stakeholders supervision.

Mbamalu said that the federal government would generate more revenue with the introduction of B’Odogwu than the one of NICIS II.

The government relating manager, APM Terminal, Yinka Akinlade, and the operation manager, Shammah Bonded Terminal, Gabriel Igwebuike, who had tested the B’Odogwu testified that it was faster and easy to learn.