5 hours Ago By Guardian Nigeria
Some commercial banks inefficient operations of late have been identified as a major setback to cargo clearance at the seaports, especially on the platform of B’Odugwu digital system recently introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The Nigeria Customs Service pilot phase of B’Odogwu trade modernization software is aimed at streamlining Customs documentation and clearance process. The Founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Boniface Aniebonam, said: “B’Odogwu is a local creation of Nigerians to take over Nigeria Integrated Customs System (NICIS) with clear intent to streamline Customs Automation Systems.
Unfortunately, we noted that this effort is being undermined. “The major challenge on B’Odogwu concept is with the processing of payments at the banks, due to lack of integration of some banks and lack of proper communication between banks headquarters and their operational branches on how to process payment on B’Odogwu for connected banks. “As critical stakeholders in the maritime trade and transportation, NAGAFF is very much aware that the pilot stage of this great thinking shall have initial problems to be addressed as they come.
Therefore, the need to exercise patients cannot be overemphasized,” he stated. Noting that the new approach is more productive and efficient than NICIS of old, the NAGAFF Chief stated that: “There are traces of human element barriers against this laudable objective of saving Nigeria a huge sum of forex and local content.” He noted that NAGAFF members are facing difficulties of cargo clearance at Port and Terminal Management Ltd (PTML) alongside the agitations of the sister association, Association of Nigeria Customs License Agents (ANLCA).
He stated: “The two vessels manifested on December 4 and 9, 2024 have already been transmitted to B’Odogwu with 1,825 bills of lading and 2,210 containers of which 523 entries have been assessed, with some paid and selected for examination. This has surged the total number of SGDs to about 1,007 as of 7:32pm December 11, 2024.” Aniebonam said the issue of high demurrage charges by the terminal operators is also a major concern.
In trying to resolve these avoidable circumstances, he said all concerned banks must as a matter of urgency ensure seamless integration and sensitization of desk officers at their operational branches on how to process payment on B’Odogwu, noting that the platform has high propensity of improving clearance time and trade facilitation, efficiency, enhanced Customs control and increased revenue collection. He urged Customs to deploy its inherent powers to arrest and prosecute any person who obstructs the lawful duty of an officer as contained in their act..
