By Aisha Cole
Lagos, March 3, 2025 (Naija247news) – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the gradual implementation of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) for cargo clearance at Nigerian ports. The new system, named B’Odogwu, is expected to revolutionize trade and streamline the cargo clearance process, reducing clearance times to under eight hours once fully operational.
A pre-launch event was held on Monday at the Apapa and Tincan Customs Commands, where key stakeholders and customs officials gathered to discuss the new system’s implementation. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, highlighted that the Federal Government had ceased renewing contracts with previous service providers to facilitate the B’Odogwu rollout.
He explained that the government had previously partnered with a service provider for over a decade to support customs operations, which led to the establishment of the NICIS platform. However, with the introduction of B’Odogwu, the government has engaged a new provider, Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), to ensure a more efficient cargo clearance process.
“The Federal Government has stopped renewing the contract for the previous provider, which established the NICIS platform. Now, with B’Odogwu, we are offering stakeholders a more robust cargo clearance process,” Adeniyi stated.
He described the pre-launch event as a significant milestone in the transition towards global trade classification under the Trade Modernisation Project. Although B’Odogwu has shown positive outcomes, Adeniyi acknowledged the challenges faced at the Port and Cargo Multi Service Ltd (PTML) Customs Command, particularly in integrating banks into the system. However, he revealed that Governor Olayemi Kadoso of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had endorsed B’Odogwu after a recent meeting on February 27, 2025.
Adeniyi urged continued collaboration among stakeholders to address existing challenges before the full-scale implementation of the system. Reflecting on the challenges faced during the introduction of NICIS in 2013, he emphasized that these issues were resolved with the support of stakeholders.
The Deputy Comptroller-General for ICT and Trade, Kikelomo Adeola, noted that the initial implementation of B’Odogwu demonstrated its potential to reduce business costs and improve operational efficiency. “We are prioritizing training for stakeholders to ensure they understand the process fully before the system’s complete implementation at Apapa and Tincan Island,” she added.
In support of the initiative, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs and Zone ‘A’ Coordinator, Charles Orbih, praised the introduction of three core pillars of the service’s transformation: Conservation, Collaboration, and Innovation. Orbih highlighted the potential of B’Odogwu to reshape the NCS’s global operations, stressing that the system was initially launched in October 2024.
Babatunde Olomu, the Controller of the Apapa Customs Command, praised the Comptroller-General for introducing B’Odogwu, noting that it would play a crucial role in boosting revenue generation. He also mentioned that a series of training sessions for stakeholders and officers had been conducted to prepare for the system’s successful implementation.
Tenny Daniyan, the Controller of PTML, provided insight into the effectiveness of B’Odogwu, stating that the processing of a Single Goods Declaration (SGD) now takes less than an hour. He revealed that since its implementation, the PTML Command has generated N120 billion and processed 16,000 SGDs. Daniyan acknowledged initial challenges, but reassured that with the intervention of the Comptroller-General and discussions with the CBN Governor, the issues had been resolved.
B’Odogwu, developed by NCS ICT officers, carries an indigenous name to encourage greater stakeholder engagement and underscores the country’s commitment to advancing customs operations in line with global best practices.
