Facing The Reality of B’Odogwu In Cargo Clearance

Perhaps, the single, greatest source of pride in the nation’s port system as of today is the recent adoption and implementation of the B’Odogwu portal introduced and launched by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in October 2024.

Stakeholders across board were enthusiastic that the business support tool like a few others before it in the industry has become home grown, raising hopes that Nigeria has begun to think more productively and looking inwards towards developing its own capacities as she cannot afford to depend on foreign partnership and support in perpetuity.

Thus to a large extent, B’Odogwu  fit the Proudly Nigerian Project that must be supported and encouraged through its formative struggles onwards to attaining its projected stability as all nations and peoples of the world does in support of the development of their own technological systems, potentials and initiatives.

After all every nation has the responsibility to wean itself of its foster parents and at some stage begin the serious business of to growing its potentials towards becoming self sustaining, be it economic or technology.

This is only achievable through belief and conviction, focus and determination, commitment and perseverance. There is no gain saying the fact that B’Odogwu has enjoyed massive support from both the stakeholders and other port users, and there is need to keep the fire burning through sustained engagements and dialogue without compromising the ultimate dream of making B’Odogwu a global reference in customs and ports trade.

Every new application suffers teething problems and requires continuous fine-tuning. While we must regard the recent misunderstanding about the purported slowness or otherwise of B’Odogwu which dovetailed into arguments about cargo vessels delays and fears of demurrages and rent between the NCS and the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) as avoidable, future energy should rather be on what to contribute to ease the path to the success of the new system which we must accept as having come to stay.

Indeed, the best way to build this common focus and trust is to accept the fact that NICIS 11, the prior cargo documentation portal and B’Odogwu have parted ways for good, effectively and officially, at least in the pilot scheme trial port, Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command.

While certain form of resistance to change is a universal phenomenon, which may not be different with B’Odogwu, Pinnacle Time note that the NCS being the executor has no doubt provided interactive platforms and help desks to assuage the concerns and worries of stakeholders who may feel the pitch at the receiving end of every new innovation.

Both parties must continue to cultivate greater understanding as events unfold, because B’Odogwu from all indication has come to stay as a Nigerian project to which we must all commit, unreservedly.

It is instructive that the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi already set the pace during the launch when he pledged that the service will continue to improve on the workings of the system until near perfection and when stability is achieved.

He did not promise that B’Odogwu was a perfect tool and hence urged stakeholders early enough to continue to support the new system as a member of the commonwealth and part owner.

In the same vein, ANLCA and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), and others also pledged their commitment to the new project.

Therefore, reports of misunderstanding earlier in the week must be attributable to the human nature and not because one party is more patriotic or the other party angling to drive a sabotage; we must admit that such misunderstanding obviously, is accidental to the task at hand.

It bears emphasizing that during the launch, Adeniyi said that the application being imperfect may from time to time, require reworking and upgrade, especially during the pilot trial period, assuring that the NCS has in anticipation, prepared a ready pool of technical personnel to provide support whenever it may be required.

“I want to address an important point up front. Yes, we do anticipate some technical challenges during this roll out phase. This is normal with any new system implementation, and it should not cause us any alarm. We have positioned a dedicated team of technical experts to provide immediate support and ensure a smooth transition as much as possible. This team will be available round the clock to address any issue that may arise.

“l want to imagine that if documentation is fine, if there are no issues with documents that are submitted, what Odogwu promises us is even better infrastructure, so we are going to have a better, swifter processes of documents.

“I don’t want you to hold me down to time now, what we are doing is that we are running a pilot and as we run this pilot, we will take our lessons. We will make mistakes, we will correct them, we will see gaps, we will cover them, so that by the time we announce that we have finished pilot and we are willing to roll out, then you can hold us accountable and say it takes us two hours, three hours to process PAAR, to process any declaration.”

On its part, ANLCA which said it wholly identifies with B’Odogwu, Tuesday voiced out about alleged transactional challenges it said has led to delays as it expressed worries about its financial implication on members and other clearing agents. The NCS has promptly debunked the allegations, assuring that every issue alluded to by the association has been receiving proper attention.

PTML Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Tenny Daniyan  who addressed a press conference in his office said B’Odogwu has recorded significant success since it was rolled out, noting that it has raised the command’s revenue collection profile with the sum of N44.9b  generated in November 2024, which coincidentally, is the highest monthly collection recorded so far by the command since inception.

Speaking to the complaints about delay in the integration of dealer banks to the Odogwu platform, Daniyan said in addition to over 5 banks that are already hooked up to the system, the NCS ICT/Modernisation Department has concluded arrangement for the remaining 17 banks that are on the interswitch payment platform to come onboard; assuring that the process should conclude by Thursday, December 5, 2024.

He also punctured claims about four vessels that were believed to have been unattended allegedly due to B’Odogwu failure, noting that those complaining have given an untrue narrative regarding the matter, regardless of the meeting both parties had in his office.

The PTML Customs boos averred that the command met with some stakeholders earlier in the week where all issues bordering on the challenges experienced by agents were addressed and advised to engage the implementation team for further assistance.

He explained that suggestions to reconnect with NICIS 11 is not only retrogressive and defeatist in nature but also outright impossible, especially in view of the fact that the Command have been disconnected of NICIS 11 by its owner, the instant B’Odogwu was launched.

He said, “B’Odogwu is a Nigerian baby that should be fed by Nigerians. We are weaning our baby from a foreign mother and I urge all Nigerians to support it. We are not going back to NICIS II. The use of NICIS II platform has come to an end in PTML as this is the position of the Service.

“We are aware that some of our agents are yet to be fully acquainted with the additional requirements that were not involved in NICIS II. As the problems come up, we are solving them. Note that the management has dispatched an implementation team here to ensure our stakeholders don’t suffer.

“We were disconnected from NICIS II three months ago and we have fully commenced implementation to grow our own teeth and serve the country better. We have left NICIS here in PTML. We are committed to get it right here before moving to Tin Can and other ports.”

On the issue of SGD capture, he said, “So far in November,292 bills of laden have been captured in November, 375 are yet to capture. As at today, Wednesday over 98 people have paid their duties under B’Odogwu platform as more banks are coming on board”, adding:

“Our turnaround time for properly declared RoRo cargo is still two hours but this is dependent on compliance by the declarant. As a command, we will not sacrifice national security and revenue on the altar of trade facilitation.”

The Controller said most agents claiming challenges with capturing have not registered on the platform and urged them to come forward for capture to address any challenge.

We are of the view that however germane concerns by both parties may be, continuous dialogue and partnership remains a win-win solution. Same for cost implications attributable to delayed transactions which apparently is making clearing agents agitated and edgy.

While it must be stated that the NCS is certainly not unconcerned about this obvious apprehensions, there should be a more reassuring approach to assuage this fears, whilst improving policy regulations to minimize unintended costs.

It was the former CGC Abdullahi Dikko of blessed memory who once said “Customs and agents are like husband and wife; we must discuss some of our problems within us.”

He also said the customs/agents relationship is as delicate as that that of an egg and a stone in a bag, which must be carefully handled, because each has the potential of causing damage and be at the receiving end.”

If B’Odogwu succeeds, it shall be to our collective good, and we must all have our hands on the deck to promote its success. It is also important that the media be carried along occasionally, for updates and progress. We are of the opinion that information, handy and accessible information can spice up media contribution in this project, and hence the need to accord reporters responses to enquiries as the least obligation stakeholders owe journalists and by extension, the society.