Nigeria Customs Resolves Technical Glitch Affecting PAAR Certificate Transmission

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The NCS in a statement said the glitch, which caused delays for importers and licensed customs agents, stemmed from integration challenges during the onboarding of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) onto the digital platform on July 23.

The system hiccup temporarily hindered traders from accurately capturing key documentation including Form M, PAAR, and Single Goods Declaration (SGD).

Among the issues reported were:

• Inadequate space for trader names
• Incorrect data formatting
• Missing 10-digit product codes
• Confusing error messages
• Difficulty linking Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) to trader profiles

While NCS engineers swiftly addressed the internal system faults, full resolution requirinh collaboration with SON to restore seamless data transmission was achieved within acceptable time limit.

As of Wednesday, August 6, both agencies confirmed that the technical issues have been resolved. The backlog of affected transactions is now being cleared, and traders can once again transmit their certificates without disruption.

In a broader move to enhance digital trade facilitation, the NCS has expanded the B’Odogwu platform nationwide across Zones A, B, C, and D. Trained officers have been deployed to provide on-site technical support to stakeholders.

“The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to transparency, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement,” said Dr. Abdullahi Maiwada, Assistant Comptroller and National Public Relations Officer. “Regular training sessions are ongoing to build user capacity and ensure operational challenges are swiftly addressed.”

The NCS encourages traders and agents to participate in these sessions and take advantage of the technical support available at various command centers.