Cargo clearance operations at ports across Nigeria were severely disrupted following a cyber attack on the Information Communication Technology (ICT) platform of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), leaving licensed customs agents counting losses from mounting demurrage and storage charges.
The disruption, which affected cargo processing and clearance timelines, caused significant delays for importers and exporters. Many stakeholders reported distortions to business plans and increased costs of operations.
Confirming the incident, NCS spokesperson and Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Maiwada Abdullahi, said the attack occurred some time ago but has since been rectified.
“Yes, our platform was attacked some time ago, but it has been rectified and is now fully operational. We have strengthened our systems to ensure that cybercriminals will find it much more difficult to penetrate in the future,” Abdullahi stated.
He added that discussions are ongoing with stakeholders on possible relief measures for importers whose goods were delayed during the outage.
Industry stakeholders have raised concerns about the resilience of the new B’Odogwu ICT platform adopted by the Customs.
President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Lucky Amiwero, criticised the platform, citing defects similar to those experienced under the former West Blue system before reforms initiated during the tenure of former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
“The government needs to overhaul the newly introduced B’Odogwu ICT platform. The glitch has resulted in huge demurrage, storage charges, and higher clearance costs. Manufacturers Association, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), and NACCIMA should be at the forefront of addressing these anomalies but have remained passive,” Amiwero said.
Similarly, importer and licensed customs agent, Olawale Odu, urged the government and the NCS to engage terminal operators and shipping companies to grant waivers that would offset financial losses incurred during the disruption.
The incident has reignited calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Customs’ digital infrastructure to ensure operational efficiency, reduce systemic risks, and safeguard trade facilitation processes critical to the nation’s economy.