B'Odogwu: Nigeria Customs Initiates Pilot Phase for Form "M"
Kathy Kyari
In order to process Form M across all of its Commands, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun a trial program using its new Unified Customs Management System, "B'Odogwu".
AC Abdullahi Maiwada, the Service's National Public Relations Officer, called the action a significant step in Customs' efforts to use technology to modernise trade procedures in a statement issued on Monday.
Preparatory activities began across three selected Customs Commands: Apapa Area Command, Tin Can Island Port, and Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) following the Service's clearance to integrate the Form M procedure into the B'Odogwu Trade Portal, according to Maiwada.
These sites were chosen, he said, to guide the pilot phase in a strategic and controlled setting that would enable careful observation, stakeholder participation, and performance evaluation.
"As part of the pilot, 544 Form M entries were handled. Out of these, 283 were successfully registered, 10 validated, and 26 stored for follow-up. The data also showed 41 submissions, 120 returns for correction, 11 queries, 14 PAARs locked, and 39 recommended for approval."
"From those entries, 37 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) were generated. Of these, 7 PAARs were registered, 12 had their Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) processed, 2 received full approval, 8 were recommended for further review, 4 submitted, and 4 queried."
Maiwada noted that these results confirm B’Odogwu’s ability to support full, real-time trade documentation, a step toward streamlining Nigeria’s import-export operations.
He added that the pilot marks the beginning of a larger national rollout aimed at simplifying customs documentation, boosting transparency, and reducing clearance times.
“Consequently, to enhance trade facilitation and supply chain security in the ongoing pilot phase, NCS encourages all carriers (shipping lines and airlines) to commence transmission of manifests to the B’Odogwu platform while ensuring that all key stakeholders, particularly the financial institutions and traders, are adequately engaged and prepared for full deployment,” he said.
“Under the visionary leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the Service will continue to pursue strategic automation initiatives that consolidate its role in trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national development."
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