Customs Recommit To Tackling Obstacles To B’Odogwu, Says Platform Reduces Cost

The Nigeria Customs (NCS), on Monday, reiterated the economic importance of the indigenous trade platform, B’Odogwu, saying it has brought down the cost of doing business, eased the process of doing business and also tackled security threats.

LEADERSHIP reports that stakeholders have at a Town Hall meeting hosted in Lagos by the service identified teething issues affecting the B’Odogwu system to include migration from NICIS II to B’Odogwu, banks’ inability to make amendments on B’Odogwu, and classification of HS Code between the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

However, speaking after a panel discussion on the issues confronting the B’Odogwu platform, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, stated that the reason for the Town Hall meeting was to give stakeholders opportunities to provide feedback on the B’Odogwu system.

According to the Customs CG, B’Odogwu has brought more transparency, improved digital tracking of transactions, and wiped out all downtime that had been synonymous with the NICIS II.

“We have organised this Town Hall meeting because we want to hear from our stakeholders their experiences with the B’Odogwu system. Over the last two weeks, I have had concerns about logging in, migration from NICIS II to B’Odogwu, payment problems and things like that, but we had discussions with the authorised bank ten days ago and we got feedback and commitment from them that they are going to address some of the issues that have been raised.

“I am also happy that the feedback that we have got is not all about complaints. Indeed, we have had several positive feedback from some of our stakeholders. What we have seen during the panel discussion shows that, for every change processed, there could be sacrifices that will be made.

“We also appreciate the fact that every change process brings up some level of satisfaction. If the commitment is there, we will both benefit from the desired change that we want to bring about.

“So, we just want to encourage everybody involved to continue to collaborate and open up this kind of platform, so that we take direct feedback on how to improve. The fact that B’Odogwu is bringing cost reduction, cost of doing business, ease of doing business while also tackling security threats, means it has come to stay.”

“So, as we deploy technology, we will be getting better at the balancing act, such that none of these mandates will have to suffer because we are deploying a free competition system. I am indeed proud to say that this is a positive level of stakeholder engagement. We have got so much positive feedback from users, from terminal operators, and we are indeed grateful for that.”

The Customs boss also disclosed that the service will move the town hall meeting to the Eastern zone and the Northern part of the country.

“We will be taking this stakeholders’ engagement outside Lagos. I am very sure most of our colleagues in the Eastern ports will be very glad to have something similar to this. This engagement will be taken to stakeholders in the North and the East.”

On 4 per cent Free On Board (FOB), the Customs Boss stated that its introduction will wipe out 1 per cent of the Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) and 7 per cent of the Cost of Collection.

“Now, talking seriously, in terms of the 4 per cent FOB that I spoke about in the earlier session, with the implementation of 4 per cent FOB, the 1 per cent CISS and the 7 per cent cost of collection, which is also being charged, will be completely removed.

“Talking about the seven per cent cost of collection, it is taken from the federation account to administer Customs operations. What this represents is that the three tiers of government, the federal government, the state government, and the other sub-national governments, will comprise 70 per cent of what is brought to the federation account.

“That’s what we have practised in the last 10 years, however, under the new Act, 4 per cent FOB is to be paid up front, and that’s it. Once that is done, it is 100 per cent of the revenue generated by Customs that will go to the federation account. So it’s going to be a win-win situation for all of us.”