By Steve Agbota, Lagos
The new technology introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), B’Odogwu, has facilitated N230 billion in revenue at the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command since its commencement in October 2024.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Tenny Daniyan, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN). He described B’Odogwu as a Nigerian digital technology that has revolutionised Customs operations.
He said the new technology was not without challenges, adding that over 90 per cent of the challenges have been resolved.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for having the confidence to go ahead with the initiative, which has become the pride of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Daniyan said, “B’Odogwu is working, and it’s working for us; we have realised over N230 billion so far on the platform. If it is not working for you, it means you are not doing the right thing. We thank God all the issues have been resolved. We are posting and posting very well.
“Now, we can only say yes, this is our baby. It’s our baby because we don’t need a third party to do anything for us. It is fully Nigerian, unlike the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS). When you have issues, you will have to translate and then send it to a foreign country before the problem can be solved.”
He said the platform would save the federal government billions of naira that would have been lost to capital flight on NICIS.
According to him, this means that Customs is not only helping Nigeria to generate revenue but also saving money.
He enjoined agents and importers to be compliant and make honest declarations to enjoy seamless cargo clearance.
“If you are a compliant trader, you don’t have issues; we give you one hour, not even two hours, to get your consignment. That is what we are working towards. But we can only achieve one-hour cargo clearance depending on who is making the declaration,” he added.
The NCS PTML boss assured that the capacity in Nigerian Customs this season is going to be the finest in Nigeria, as the entire Customs Service is undergoing automation processes.
This year, he said, the command had generated N147.3 billion in revenue, an index that showed that B’Odogwu is working well.
In a related development, the command held a training session for clearing agents on the necessary tools of Customs to facilitate cargo clearance.
Daniyan, at the session, urged the agents to support the Customs automation process and to feel free to seek support wherever they are having challenges.
Speaking earlier, the president of SCAN, Moses Ebosele, commended the CAC for his open-door policy and thanked him for the cordial relationship between PTML Customs Command and journalists.
Ebosele also appreciated Daniyan’s giant strides, especially in the areas of revenue generation and capacity building for stakeholders.
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