Customs Promises to Fine-tune B’Odogwu, Plans Return of Suspended 4%FOB Levy
CGC ADENIYI
• NAGAFF Founder urges freight forwarders to be patient, compliant with trade regulations
• Calls on FG to properly fund Customs
By Francis Ugwoke
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday said it will do everything to ensure the success of B’Odogwu, a home developed trade portal, as part of the efforts to achieve simplified processes of clearing goods at the nation’s ports.
The Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who disclosed this during a townhall meeting with stakeholders also said there are plans to reintroduce the four per cent Free On Board FOB Levy that was earlier suspended.
Adeniyi who spoke on the theme, ‘Enhancing Trade Compliance and System Optimisation Through Stakeholder Engagement’, explained that the Monday meeting was mainly to get a feedback from the stakeholders on the B’Odogwu technology to guide the Service in the fine-tuning.
He said that the inputs from the stakeholders will further guide the Customs in its efforts for the fine-tuning of the home grown technology in order to make it more use friendly.
On the reintroduction of the four percent FOB, the Customs boss explained that this was to enable the Service be able to fund a number of trade modernisation and digital transformation projects.
Adeniyi however, reminded the stakeholders that the FOB is contained in the Customs Act, 2023.
According to him, “We will have to reintroduce the four per cent FOB levy to enable the Service fund the various huge technology and modernisation programmes that are actually currently ongoing. This is not really new, since it was enshrined in the Customs Act, 2023. If we want efficient service delivery, we must also be ready to fund the modernisation and automation of our systems. So the levy was designed to enable the Service to enable it transit from NICIS II to B’ Odogwu, which is entirely indigenous.
“Nigeria is now the Chairman of the WCO Council, and this place on us, a huge responsibility to demonstrate global leadership and we can effectively do this by showcasing B’Odogwu system, our homegrown technological innovation that is capable of transforming Customs operations. So it is B’Odogwu to the world”.
In his speech, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeola, explained that the Townhall meeting was mainly to ensure that the stakeholders inputs are taken into consideration for the sake of system optimisation.
Adeola said, “This Town Hall is not just another event; it is a strategic platform to engage our valued partners in trade on the B’Odogwu Clearance System. Since its phased deployment, B’Odogwu has demonstrated tremendous potential in enhancing clearance efficiency, improving cargo visibility, and boosting revenue generation. Yet, like every major reform, its success depends on how well we carry along the people it was built for, that is you.
“However, our continuous monitoring and feedback reveal that many importers still face challenges navigating the system. These are not insurmountable obstacles; they are gaps we must bridge through education, direct engagement, and mutual accountability. That is why we are here today.
“This engagement will clarify the end-to-end roles of importers and other stakeholders in the B’Odogwu ecosystem, showcase the platform’s capabilities through live demonstrations; provide space for honest dialogue through panel sessions and questions and answers; receive feedback from air freighters, terminal operators, shipping lines, importers across various modes -the seaport, airport, and the land borders”.
Meanwhile, the Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, on Monday urged freight forwarders to be patient to see B’Odogwu work efficiently.
He said that the top customs team have been making frantic efforts to ensure that the home grown technology works well.
Aniebonam said in a statement, “It is to our knowledge about all the efforts the management team of the Nigeria customs service led by the comptroller General of Customs is making, including but not limited to the various area commands through stakeholders engagement
“At the moment the comptroller General of Customs has been moving around the western and eastern ports to ensure things are working well together with his officers at the zones
“Just last week the comptroller of Apapa port visited Nagaff Hqrs and our sister associations, and it’s on record that the comptroller of Apapa, Tcip, Ptml and federal operations unit shall be following up the stakeholders to inform, educate and enlighten them , and in particular the DTI operators
“What is certain is that we must go through the initial teething problems and we must equally appreciate the problems the service may be encountering to power the innovation”
Aniebonam reminded the federal government that there is urgent need for the customs administration to be properly funded to enable it achieve its objectives.
According to him, “ I strongly advise the government and in particular the National Assembly and the executive to leverage the approved percentage of dues entered in the customs act, this shall help customs to achieve objectives of Bodogwu innovation and other administrative requirements
“Nigeria customs service needed to be properly funded, and I must advise at the moment that Nigeria is in the eye of global customs administration, noting that the new responsibility bestowed on the comptroller General of Customs as chairman of world customs organisation is not a tea party . A lot is desirous of Nigeria under the circumstances
“We must set a model for others to emulate, under the circumstances I do call upon the President of Nigeria to take special interest in the funding of Nigeria customs service in accordance with the customs laws and regulations
“It is also important that I remind freight forwarders and shippers that this is the time for high level compliance on import and export regulations, B’ODOGWU INNOVATION may suffer the same problems like NICIS 2 regime if we do not showcase integrity in our declarations for customs purposes”
• Calls on FG to properly fund Customs
By Francis Ugwoke
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday said it will do everything to ensure the success of B’Odogwu, a home developed trade portal, as part of the efforts to achieve simplified processes of clearing goods at the nation’s ports.
The Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who disclosed this during a townhall meeting with stakeholders also said there are plans to reintroduce the four per cent Free On Board FOB Levy that was earlier suspended.
Adeniyi who spoke on the theme, ‘Enhancing Trade Compliance and System Optimisation Through Stakeholder Engagement’, explained that the Monday meeting was mainly to get a feedback from the stakeholders on the B’Odogwu technology to guide the Service in the fine-tuning.
He said that the inputs from the stakeholders will further guide the Customs in its efforts for the fine-tuning of the home grown technology in order to make it more use friendly.
On the reintroduction of the four percent FOB, the Customs boss explained that this was to enable the Service be able to fund a number of trade modernisation and digital transformation projects.
Adeniyi however, reminded the stakeholders that the FOB is contained in the Customs Act, 2023.
According to him, “We will have to reintroduce the four per cent FOB levy to enable the Service fund the various huge technology and modernisation programmes that are actually currently ongoing. This is not really new, since it was enshrined in the Customs Act, 2023. If we want efficient service delivery, we must also be ready to fund the modernisation and automation of our systems. So the levy was designed to enable the Service to enable it transit from NICIS II to B’ Odogwu, which is entirely indigenous.
“Nigeria is now the Chairman of the WCO Council, and this place on us, a huge responsibility to demonstrate global leadership and we can effectively do this by showcasing B’Odogwu system, our homegrown technological innovation that is capable of transforming Customs operations. So it is B’Odogwu to the world”.
In his speech, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeola, explained that the Townhall meeting was mainly to ensure that the stakeholders inputs are taken into consideration for the sake of system optimisation.
Adeola said, “This Town Hall is not just another event; it is a strategic platform to engage our valued partners in trade on the B’Odogwu Clearance System. Since its phased deployment, B’Odogwu has demonstrated tremendous potential in enhancing clearance efficiency, improving cargo visibility, and boosting revenue generation. Yet, like every major reform, its success depends on how well we carry along the people it was built for, that is you.
“However, our continuous monitoring and feedback reveal that many importers still face challenges navigating the system. These are not insurmountable obstacles; they are gaps we must bridge through education, direct engagement, and mutual accountability. That is why we are here today.
“This engagement will clarify the end-to-end roles of importers and other stakeholders in the B’Odogwu ecosystem, showcase the platform’s capabilities through live demonstrations; provide space for honest dialogue through panel sessions and questions and answers; receive feedback from air freighters, terminal operators, shipping lines, importers across various modes -the seaport, airport, and the land borders”.
Meanwhile, the Founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, on Monday urged freight forwarders to be patient to see B’Odogwu work efficiently.
He said that the top customs team have been making frantic efforts to ensure that the home grown technology works well.
Aniebonam said in a statement, “It is to our knowledge about all the efforts the management team of the Nigeria customs service led by the comptroller General of Customs is making, including but not limited to the various area commands through stakeholders engagement
“At the moment the comptroller General of Customs has been moving around the western and eastern ports to ensure things are working well together with his officers at the zones
“Just last week the comptroller of Apapa port visited Nagaff Hqrs and our sister associations, and it’s on record that the comptroller of Apapa, Tcip, Ptml and federal operations unit shall be following up the stakeholders to inform, educate and enlighten them , and in particular the DTI operators
“What is certain is that we must go through the initial teething problems and we must equally appreciate the problems the service may be encountering to power the innovation”
Aniebonam reminded the federal government that there is urgent need for the customs administration to be properly funded to enable it achieve its objectives.
According to him, “ I strongly advise the government and in particular the National Assembly and the executive to leverage the approved percentage of dues entered in the customs act, this shall help customs to achieve objectives of Bodogwu innovation and other administrative requirements
“Nigeria customs service needed to be properly funded, and I must advise at the moment that Nigeria is in the eye of global customs administration, noting that the new responsibility bestowed on the comptroller General of Customs as chairman of world customs organisation is not a tea party . A lot is desirous of Nigeria under the circumstances
“We must set a model for others to emulate, under the circumstances I do call upon the President of Nigeria to take special interest in the funding of Nigeria customs service in accordance with the customs laws and regulations
“It is also important that I remind freight forwarders and shippers that this is the time for high level compliance on import and export regulations, B’ODOGWU INNOVATION may suffer the same problems like NICIS 2 regime if we do not showcase integrity in our declarations for customs purposes”
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