Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has assured the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, of resolving the challenges being experienced on its indigenous digital trade platform, B’Odogwu.
The Comptroller-General of NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, gave the assurance in a statement by the service’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is following concerns raised by freight forwarders and Licenced Customs Agents over delays and demurrage linked to the rollout of B’Odogwu.
Recall that on Aug. 7, the NCS announced it had resolved delays in the transmission of product certificates for Form M and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme,SONCAP, on the B’Odogwu platform.
These certificates are required for processing the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) on the platform.
NAN reports that the NCS had rolled out nationwide implementation of the B’Odogwu platform across Zones A, B, C, and D, with trained officers deployed to provide hands-on technical assistance to traders and licensed agents.
The C-G assured that challenges in the initial rollout phase would be systematically addressed through structured stakeholder engagement, phased improvements, and continuous system upgrades.
Adeniyi said he met with the Executive Secretary of the NSC, Dr Akutah Ukeyima, on Monday at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja to deliberate on practical solutions to mitigate the inconveniences faced by operators.
“In line with its modernisation drive and commitment to trade facilitation, the NCS has engaged in a high-level consultation with the NSC on the implementation of the Unified Customs Management System, more commonly known as B’Odogwu,” he said.
Adeniyi explained that the NSC official had conveyed the burden of freight forwarders and agents regarding operational challenges related to system integration, documentation and port logistics.
The NCS boss stressed the need for urgent responses to minimise financial losses and prevent disruptions in the cargo clearance chain.
The Customs boss reaffirmed that B’Odogwu, being a flagship project under the Customs Modernisation Programme, remained critical to achieving a transparent, technology-driven and globally competitive clearance process.
According to him, with this engagement, the NCS and NSC underscore the importance of sustained dialogue and collaboration
Adeniyi stated that further consultations with stakeholders including shipping lines and terminal operators would continue to align processes and address emerging concerns.
He emphasised that while transitional issues were expected in large-scale reforms, measures were 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,” he said.
NAN