The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stated that repeated failures of foreign software technology to ensure seamless cargo clearance procedures at the nation’s ports have prompted the service to develop an indigenous modernisation software system, B’Odogwu.
The service said B’Odogwu was created after years of technology glitches that cost the country significant revenue losses.The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) on Wednesday at Tincan Island, Lagos, during an on-the-spot assessment of the project.
Importers and agents have long lamented the continuous server downtime that delays the clearing process and documentation at the seaports, resulting in substantial demurrage costs.
Speaking yesterday, Adeniyi said despite multiple contract extensions, these providers failed to meet their deliverables and properly hand over operations at the end of their contract period .
Adeniyi remarked that, while a different outcome would have been preferable, this situation strengthened the Customs’ resolve to create solutions that truly meet Nigeria’s needs.
“It is disappointing when organisations fail to leverage their extended presence in Nigeria to build credible reputations that could benefit them both locally and internationally. Foreign systems have failed Nigeria, being down more often than operational.
“We cannot continue to wait for them to rectify their systems and hand over to us, so we took the bull by the horns and developed an indigenous system, moving away from foreign systems, especially the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II), which expired in December 2022,” he stated.
He highlighted that this new system will enhance the ability to streamline end-to-end business processes, provide stakeholders with customized integration capabilities, support more efficient and intelligent business decisions, and facilitate ease of doing business.
According to him, B’Odogwu is also designed to integrate advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality, and mixed reality in customs administration.
He said this aligns with the NCS’s commitment to maintaining strong, resilient, open, and prosperous borders that reflect the legal, policy, and strategic goals of the Service.
Adeniyi noted that PTML has received upgraded network infrastructure to meet modern demands as the country encounters more complexities in declarations and addresses trade peculiarities, assuring that the era of network downtime is over. He added that the Service is also launching a verification platform for agents, which automates the registration process for licenses and permits.
“We have successfully tested and are now ready to deploy integration APIs with our key partners in the trade supply chain, including Authorized Dealer Banks (ADBs), shipping lines, bonded warehouses, and partner government agencies,” he stated.
Recognising that challenges may arise during the rollout, Adeniyi assured stakeholders of the NCS’s readiness to address potential issues. He emphasized that a technical support team would be available to resolve any difficulties encountered, ensuring a smooth transition.
He also encouraged customs officers to embrace the training associated with the new software to maximize its potential and ensure successful implementation.
Adeniyi concluded that the pilot deployment of B’Odogwu marks a crucial step in the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing efforts to modernize its operations, aiming for greater efficiency and improved service delivery at Nigeria’s ports.
