The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, CGC, Bashir Wale Adeniyi, has reiterates the unflinching commitment of the Service to ensure that the  Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), otherwise known as B’Odogwu among port users, is intended to enhance Customs operations in Nigeria and has come to stay.

L/R: Mr. Tochukwu Nwabueze, Secretary General, International Freight Forwarders Association of Nigeria IFFAN, Paul Ogbuokiri of Advocacy Times, Tunde Ayagbalo (PRO Apapa Command) Ismail Aniemu of JournalNG, Kelvin Kagbare of Maritime Nigeria and Khalid Hussein at the Port Industry Breakfast meeting convened by Advocacy Times in Collaboration with Maritime Nigeria.

With the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) for advanced risk analysis, the platform is aligning Nigeria’s Customs processes with international standards, drastically reducing delays and improving cargo clearance time with a projected 99.9% success rate soonest.

Addressing maritime stakeholders at an interactive session in Lagos recently, the CGC emphasized that  B’Odogwu as an indigenous modern trade tool shall be retooled, strengthened and brought to perfection.

His words “On B’Odogwu, there is no going back. We have to forge ahead with what we have started. We know there will be issues, which is why, before now, we met with some authorized banks, and that engagement has yielded positive results”, Adeniyi said.

Designed to centralise and modernize Customs operations, B’Odogwu enhances transparency, strengthens compliance and simplifies the management and movement of goods across borders.

Speaking at  at the maiden Advocacy Times  and Maritime Nigeria Port Industry Breakfast Meeting with the theme, “Port Efficiency and B’Odogwu Deployment – Impact and Prospects” on Thursday, August 14, 2025 in Lagos, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I and B’Odogwu Implementation Officer at the Apapa Customs Area Command, Khalid Salis Hussain said the platform is aiming for 100 per cent proficiency level and is well on its way to meeting internationally recognised standards.

“In the nearest future, B’Odogwu is going to bring about 100 per cent port efficiency. Even if not 100, let’s just say 99.99 per cent. I am sure of that because with the introduction of scanning machines now in place and Artificial Intelligence incorporated into the system for risk analysis, I can emphatically say that the platform will be at par with the standard required internationally”, Hussain, who is part of the team that designed and developed the B’Odogwu platform said.

He highlighted that by improving transparency, security, and service delivery, the system plays a critical role in advancing port efficiency and driving the broader objectives of B’odogwu’s development.

While noting that B’Odogwu was developed in response to long standing challenges within legacy systems such as NISIS II, he explained that the platform simplifies the clearance process by allowing traders to submit documentation remotely and track progress in real time.

Addressing the issue of network disruption that has been a major cause of concern with previous platforms, Hussain disclosed that the Apapa Port Command as well as others have put in place three different fiber optics internet connectivity options as contingency plan, which enables Customs officers  switch to another network to avoid delays and disruptions.

Khalid said the platform has also enhanced collaboration with other sister agencies such as SON, NAFDAC and NDLEA, which have been integrated into the system. Hussain pointed out that as Nigeria positions itself for greater participation in global trade, innovations like B’Odogwu remain central to unlocking the full economic potential of its ports.

The Apapa Port Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tunde Ayagbalo stressed that Customs has prioritised and working round the clock to address all challenges being experienced with the B’Odogwu platform as quickly as possible, anchored on regular stakeholder engagement to keep them abreast of latest developments.

“B’Odogwu is a visionary initiative designed to spearhead innovative reforms and drive excellence within the Nigeria Customs Service. It seeks to modernise operation, enhance service delivery, and promote professionalism in line with global best practices. Customs will keep fine-tuning and improving the system to make it much more robust and ensure trade facilitation. B’Odogwu, I’m sure, will come good for Nigeria as a whole”, Ayagbalo said.

The Apapa PRO and Khalid Hussein represented the Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu at the event.

On his part, maritime expert and Publisher of JournalNG Magazine, Ismail Aniemu noted that discussions around port modernisation and initiatives like B’odogwu are timely and necessary, while calling for urgent steps to enhance port efficiency and improve the ease of doing business.

According to him, the push for technological innovation in port operations must be seen as part of a larger strategy to reposition Nigeria within the regional and global trade landscape.

He pointed out that the impacts of port inefficiencies extend beyond maritime stakeholders, reaching deep into the hinterlands of the country, affecting the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians.

As B’Odogwu capabilities continue to expand, the platform is expected to position Nigeria as a leader in digital Customs solutions across Africa, paving the way for smarter, faster and more secure trade operations and an efficient port system.