The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a revenue collection of ₦161.2 billion within a three-week period using the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as B’Odogwu.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this while addressing reporters on the performance of the system between August 1 and 22, 2025. He said the figure was realised despite initial challenges encountered with the platform, assuring that improvements were underway.
Olomu, who described Apapa Command as a critical hub for Customs operations, expressed confidence that the B’Odogwu platform would soon surpass stakeholders’ expectations in trade facilitation and efficiency.
“The confidence of our stakeholders in the Nigeria Customs Service’s ability to overcome and resolve all network glitches is not misplaced. It further underscores our shared values as patriotic Nigerians who want to see our homegrown ICT initiative thrive,” he said.
The Customs chief commended importers, licensed customs agents, and freight forwarders for their patience during the transition period, noting that the Service’s ICT department was working round the clock to address technical setbacks.
He added that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, had sustained dialogue with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council to mitigate the impact of downtime on trade processes. According to him, part of the engagements involved discussions on demurrage waivers with terminal operators and shipping companies.
At the command level, Olomu explained that the Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Charles Orbih, had been physically present at Apapa to interface with stakeholders and address operational concerns.
To ease the clearance backlog, Olomu said officers at the command had been directed to work extended hours, including weekends, to fast-track pending transactions and reduce delays associated with routine working schedules.
He reaffirmed that the Customs management was determined to make the B’Odogwu system more efficient than the previous ICT platforms deployed by the Service
