ECOWAS hails Customs’ “B’Odogwu” innovation, trade
By Aisha Cole
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its innovative “B’Odogwu” Unified Customs Management System, a homegrown solution that enhances trade facilitation and revenue generation.
Its Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC) of ECOWAS lauded the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for championing the initiative.
The commendation was made during the RTFC’s visit on Tuesday to the Port and Terminal Multi-Service Ltd. (PTML) customs command in Lagos, which served as the pilot location for the B’Odogwu system’s implementation.
Mr Kolawole Sofola, ECOWAS Director of Trade, who led the delegation, also praised Adeniyi and the PTML command for the remarkable achievements in trade facilitation and revenue collection since the project’s inception.
The ECOWAS director, who led the team to learn about the activities of the command and get deeper insight into recent NCS activities, added that Nigeria was making gains with the deployment of modern innovations.
Sofola explained that NCS was doing a great job in enabling economic growth through trade facilitation and suppression of smuggling.
He also lauded Controller of PTML, Comptroller Tenny Daniyan, for deploying the technology to achieve greater productivity and increasing revenue collection.
“On behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, as well as the Commissioner responsible for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, I congratulate Comptroller Daniyan and his management team for the great work that they are doing.
“The comptroller is not only generating revenue but also stopping smuggling activities as well as promoting trade facilitation.
“We came here to learn as a regional trade facilitation committee, consisting of all ECOWAS member states and we are very glad to have noted a very good practice in Nigeria. What Nigeria has been doing is evolving with the times.
“Nigeria have moved from one system to another until finally moved to this current system called B’Odogwu which is homegrown. The Nigeria Customs is doing well in promoting economic growth across the commands,” he said.
In his response, Area Controller of the PTML Command, Comptroller Tenny Daniyan, told the committee that the command collected over N230 billion using the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS) B’Odogwu, in platform since November 2024 to May 22.
Comptroller Daniyan revealed to the committee that B’Odogwu project was initially launched in a pilot phase at PTML command adding that the customs management had rolled out the project in 34 commands across the country due to the success story on B’odogwu.
He noted that B’Odogwu platform was unique in the sense that it was a home-grown application which was developed by the NCS officers in conjunction with the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP).
The PTML boss said the command now operates a two-hour cargo clearance.
He attributed the achievement received so far from B’Odogwu to the level of compliant at the RoRo terminal saying that the clearance time would be reducing as the command keeps improving on its operations.
He stated that under the guidance and encouragement of the CGC Adeniyi that there had always been constant sensitisation, training and capacity building, not only for officers, but for all stakeholders such as bankers, terminal operators, and everyone involving in the use of the project.
“B’Odogwu replaced the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) that was used. As you know, with any new thing, there is a challenge, especially with technology.
“We are going to have glitches and issues, but the uniqueness of this platform is that it is a home-grown application.
“We give kudos to our CGC because the spirit and the vision in him is what he has given to us by drinking of that fountain of innovation. He is a great innovator and a visionary for these projects,” he added.
Also speaking at the meeting, The B’Odogwu Project Manager, Assistant Comptroller Oyindamola Oladepo, while delivering a presentation on the application, gave the history of how the project was initiated.
He said that N5.6 billion was realised from the platform in a day.
According to him, on average, the command has achieved port clearance in less than six hours.
He further explained that B’Odogwu integration aligns with the Comptroller-General’s core agenda: consolidate, collaborate, and innovate customs operations to enhance trade facilitation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa
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