Customs Trains ANLCA Members, Others on B’Odogwu Portal

…Sets To Replace NICIS 11, End Webb Fontaine 2 Decades Contract

BY FUNMI ALUKO

Pursuant to the further modernization of its ICT processes, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has set in motion the sensitization of customs clearing agents as it disclosed its migration from NICIS II to B’ Odogwu.

L-R Compt. Nnamdi, Prince Oduntan and Compt

B’Odogwu portal which subsumes the totality of coefficient information management under NICIS 11 comes with improved associated infrastructure especially in the area of the provision of data server due to poor service network.

The portal provides an interplay of information and data between various organs of trade including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON), Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS), HUAWEI, CHERT, IDEC, Commercial banks, etc.

National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji who dropped the hint said management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday, September 24, 2024 was at ANLCA Secretariat in Lagos for a sensitization meeting with members on the new development.

The ANLCA leader while thanking the executive management of the NCS for the awareness creation and training, reportedly beginning today at PTML Customs Command, enjoined members to quickly key into the new portal and continue to make the best use of it for the promotion of ease of doing business and national interest.

Group photograph of ANLCA members during the sensitization meeting with customs chiefs at Inde Dikko House

Speaking through Alhaji Sulaiman Adekunle, his SA Media,  Nwokeoji explained that the sensitization is predicated on the application of the new initiative, which is not only home grown but emphasizes the importance of the customs service taking full charge of the service’s ICT risk management portal.

He explained that whereas the new portal was officially announced on Monday at the Customs Training School Ikeja, Lagos, two comptrollers, two assistant comptrollers and other rank and files were at Inde Dikko House to provide the necessary update and guide the clearing agents on how the portal is working.

Features of the B’ Odogwu portal include, Declarant Workplace, Form M, PAAR, Single Goods Declaration, Assessment Notice, Payment, Examination Report, Exit Note, Gate Pass, Bond Management, Excise and User Management, Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in HS Code Classification and Valuation, Simplified manifest management and cargo scanner integration.

Others include trade partner validation to curtail fraudulent activities, improved compliance with Anti- money laundering laws and economic sanctions, progress tracking (importers can see the exact step their application is at), single submission ( one time upload documents), seller database ( building exporter risk profile) and electronic comment tagging.

Represented by the Vice President, Prince Segun Oduntan, Nwokeoji thanked the NCS authority for always seeking a formal avenue to carry agents along on critical changes in customs operations.

Below is excerpt of part of the conversation with Ayokunle:

What was the training about?

There are two things together, sensitization and mild training. It was not a full fledge training but more of a sensitization about the NCS new platform that will soon be introduced known as B’ Odogwu. We understand that B’Odogwu will replace NICIS 11 and like we all know, NICIS 11 is being managed by Webb Fontaine. The takeaway is that once NICIS 11 is replaced by B’Odogwu, it is going to be entirely managed by the NCS and B’Odogwu will send NICIS 11 to retirement.

But Webb Fontaine from its body language so far does not appear to look tired, were they prepared for this coming retirement?

Of course no house keeper receiving the full benefits of his work with generous and attractive treatment would want to leave, but we have been having problems with Webb Fontaine that has been managing the platform, technological and information aspect of NICIS 11. Good enough the NCS now wishes to take full ownership of the customs clearance procedure through B’Odogwu. So also is all other clearing documents required such as PAAR, Bill of Laden, Airways Book, Invoice, Form M and other clearance document. The only thing that will change is the platform, from NICISS 11 to B’Odogwu.

What is the implementation date of this new drive?

I am not too sure of the exact date but presently, the PTML Command has been picked for the pilot scheme and training has been scheduled to commence there, today. From next week l think the outlook will become clearer.

Who are those that have been shortlisted for the training starting today?

Our members at PTML.

I have seen some video footage of the sensitization that took place at ANLCA Secretariat and could not but notice the scanty attendance compared to the sitting capacity of the place. Would you say your members have been adequately carried alomg?

What they did was to go round some of the professional associations to create awareness, the training will take place at each command but deemed it fit to visit ANLCA first regarding the orientation yesterday and the procedures which will be on display today to our members. I am sure that there are other videos showing a fuller house than the one you saw. Let me also inform you that in actual sense, the opening ceremony was done at Customs Training School Ikeja on Monday, September 23, 2024. The CGC was represented by ACG M. Yusuf, Zone A Coordinator.

What would you say are the essential features of the B’Odogwu Portal?

The essentials are that the customs clearance portal will now be controlled and managed by customs. Number two, all other documents we have always used will still be in use.

Including  all trade data to be deposited with B’Odogwu?

No, those will remain at the National Single Window, where we have the pool of trade documents that any agency of government, whether NAFDAC, NDLEA, SON, NESREA etc that is interested will access and pick information required for their own operations. It is different with B’Odogwu which is exclusive to customs use and which will be used to generate your PAAR and process your clearance documents, like we were doing with NICIS 11.

Was the leadership of ANLCA at the meeting, and who were the personnel on ground to provide the sensitization to your members?

The National Vice President, Prince Segun Oduntan stood in for the national president, the National Secretary, Olumide Fakunle and National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Onyeme and others were also present. On the NCS were two comptrollers including customs area controller of Tin Can Island Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi mni, two Assistant Comptrollers among others.

How confident is ANLCA about the efficient workability of B’Odogwu?

You know…when PAAR was introduced, we were carried along, but they did not tell us that PAAR would be advisory.  So this issue of confidence was one area people asked questions that they hope this (B’Odogwu) will not end up a stop gap like PAAR. But they have given us assurances that it would not; their only worry is about server efficiency. Customs also assured us that there is going to be Help Desk at each command that will be manned by technical and professional officers, to mitigate any form of teething problem that may arise, which you know, is sometimes, inevitable.  We were assured that under B’Odogwu, server breakdown will be curtailed and efficiently managed.