The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) have opened high-level talks to address industry concerns over the rollout of the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as B’Odogwu.

The meeting, held on Monday at the Customs headquarters in Abuja, brought together Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs, and Dr. Akutah Ukeyima, Executive Secretary of the Shippers’ Council.

Freight forwarders and licensed Customs agents have raised alarms about delays and demurrage linked to the new platform. Relaying these concerns, Dr. Ukeyima cites “operational challenges related to system integration, documentation, and port logistics,” stressing the need for urgent measures to minimise financial losses and disruptions in the cargo clearance chain.

Responding, the Customs Comptroller-General reaffirms that B’Odogwu remains a flagship initiative of the Service’s modernisation agenda. He says the indigenous system is central to building “a transparent, technology-driven, and globally competitive clearance process.” 

Responding, the Customs Comptroller-General reaffirms that B’Odogwu remains a flagship initiative of the Service’s modernisation agenda. He says the indigenous system is central to building “a transparent, technology-driven, and globally competitive clearance process.” 

Adeniyi assures operators that initial challenges would be addressed through “structured stakeholder engagement, phased improvements, and continuous system upgrades.”

Both agencies agreed that sustained collaboration will be critical to stabilising the rollout. Further consultations with shipping lines, terminal operators, and other stakeholders will continue to “align processes and address emerging concerns.” While acknowledging that transitional hitches are inevitable in large-scale reforms, Customs says it is deploying measures to cushion operators against excessive costs such as demurrage.

Developed as an indigenous digital platform, B’Odogwu is designed to centralise Customs processes, integrate stakeholders into a single system, shorten clearance timelines, cut costs, improve compliance, and boost government revenue. 

The NCS urges operators to support the transition, provide constructive feedback, and partner with the Service in creating “a modernised trade ecosystem that promotes efficiency, competitiveness, and national development.”