In a landmark move towards full automation of trade processes, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially launched the pilot phase for processing Form M through its new B’Odogwu Trade Portal, part of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS). This breakthrough marks a major step in the Service’s sweeping technology-driven reforms aimed at streamlining import procedures, boosting transparency, and enhancing clearance efficiency across all Customs Commands.
According to a statement issued by Assistant Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the pilot began with strategic preparatory activities in three key Customs formations—Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML), Tin Can Island Port, and Apapa Area Command. These sites were chosen to test the system in a controlled environment, ensure close stakeholder engagement, and assess performance before a full national rollout.
During the pilot phase, a total of 544 Form M entries were processed via the B’Odogwu portal. Out of these, 283 forms were successfully registered, 10 validated, and 26 held in storage. An additional 41 were submitted, 120 returned for correction, 11 queried, 14 had their PAARs (Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports) locked, and 39 recommended for approval—demonstrating the robustness of the system’s trial phase.
On the PAAR side, 37 reports were generated from the Form M entries. Of these, 7 were registered, 12 had their Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) processed, 2 fully approved, 8 recommended for further review, 4 submitted for processing, and 4 queried. This output affirms the portal’s capacity to handle end-to-end trade documentation under real-time conditions.
As the pilot progresses, the NCS is urging all carriers—both shipping lines and airlines—to begin transmitting their manifests to the B’Odogwu platform. The Service is also calling on financial institutions and traders to actively engage with the system and prepare for full deployment, which is expected to reduce bottlenecks and accelerate cargo clearance timelines nationwide.
Under the visionary leadership of Comptroller-General Adeniyi, the Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to advancing digital reforms that reinforce its core mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national development.
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