The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) have opened high-level talks to address operational hiccups trailing the rollout of the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as B’Odogwu.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, met with the Executive Secretary of the Shippers’ Council, Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, on Monday, August 19, 2025, at the Customs headquarters in Abuja to deliberate on solutions to concerns raised by freight forwarders and Licensed Customs Agents over delays and rising demurrage linked to the new system.
Dr. Ukeyima, who presented industry feedback, said freight operators had experienced challenges with system integration, documentation, and port logistics, stressing that urgent responses were needed to curb financial losses and prevent cargo clearance disruptions.
In his remarks, Adeniyi reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to making B’Odogwu a flagship reform under its modernisation agenda, designed to drive transparency, efficiency, and global competitiveness.
He assured that the transitional pains being faced would be resolved through structured stakeholder engagement, phased improvements, and continuous system upgrades.
Both agencies emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration and pledged further consultations with shipping lines, terminal operators, and other stakeholders to align processes and tackle emerging concerns.
The Customs Service noted that B’Odogwu is an indigenous technology platform built to centralise clearance procedures, shorten timelines, cut costs, and improve compliance while boosting revenue generation. It urged stakeholders to support the rollout with constructive feedback and cooperation, as the Service works to build a modernised trade ecosystem that benefits both operators and the national economy.