The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) commitment to improving its newly launched Unified Customs Management System, also known as B’Odogwu, expressing confidence that the platform will soon exceed user expectations.
In a statement issued by SC JT Ayagbalo, Public Relations Officer of the Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Olomu disclosed that the command recorded a remarkable revenue collection of ₦161,258,483,474.63 (One hundred and sixty-one billion, two hundred and fifty-eight million, four hundred and eighty-three thousand, four hundred and seventy-four naira, sixty-three kobo) between August 1 and 22, 2025, using the B’Odogwu platform.
The Area Controller acknowledged that while the transition to the new system has not been without challenges, continuous engagement with stakeholders, spearheaded by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, is yielding promising results.
He commended stakeholders particularly those operating within the Apapa Command for their patience, resilience, and support throughout the period of adjustment. “The stakeholders’ confidence in the Service’s ability to overcome these initial setbacks has been vital,” Olomu said. “We remain optimistic that B’Odogwu will ultimately facilitate more efficient trade than any previous ICT system deployed by the NCS.”
Comptroller Olomu further noted that the NCS ICT team has been working tirelessly to ensure a lasting resolution to the recent system disruptions. Apapa Command, he emphasized, remains a strategic hub in the realisation of the NCS’s revenue and trade facilitation goals.
Highlighting the importance of cross-agency collaboration, Olomu revealed that the Comptroller-General has maintained open communication with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, to mitigate the impact of recent downtimes on trade. These efforts include seeking demurrage waivers from terminal operators and shipping companies.
At the command level, stakeholder engagements have continued with intensity, including the visit of Zonal Coordinator Charles Orbih, who met physically with importers, licensed customs agents, and freight forwarders to address their concerns directly.
“I am pleased with the maturity and understanding shown by our stakeholders. Their faith in our homegrown ICT initiative is a testament to our shared commitment as patriotic Nigerians,” Olomu stated.
He added: “To accelerate the clearance of pending jobs and minimize delays, I have directed our officers to extend their working hours beyond the regular Monday to Friday schedule including weekends.”