KEY POINTS
- Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to resolve Seaport cargo delays with new indigenously developed software, ‘B’Odogwu’.
- The move comes after repeated failure of foreign software, resulting in huge revenue loss and inefficiency.
- These new promises include better integration, faster decision making and ease of business.
To enhance the smoothness of cargo clearance from and to the nation’s ports, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched its indigenous software, ‘B’Odogwu’.
Repeated failures of foreign software have delayed this development for long and caused substantial revenue losses.
NCS launches indigineous ‘B’Odogwu’ software for cargo clearance
Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs, announced the launch of the software during on the spot assessment at the Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited Lagos.
The system was also developed as years of frustrating technology failures with foreign service providers who were unable to meet contractual obligations, he explained.
The new software was supposed to allow faster and more intelligent decision making and streamline end to end business processes, Adeniyi added.
“We import, but we cannot export; we have the largest population on the continent; foreign systems have failed Nigeria, we have downtimes on servers, importers, agents have had to pay demurrage in the past due to delays, it’s ridiculous,” he lamented.
Efficiencies to address and ease of doing business to improve
The advanced technology involved will further help make the process of administrations of customs smoother. The platform will be complemented as well by the customs verification platform that automates the registration process of agents.
Adeniyi also assured stakeholders that the system’s rollout will be smooth as a technical support team geared to deal with any hitch is on standby.
Accordding to The Punch, The NCS plans to roll out the initiative as part of its broader initiative to modernize customs procedural, support trade and maintain secure borders.
