PhotoSpeak at a recent Media Parley at Tincan Island Customs Command
The Tincan Island Port Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka weekend opened up on the emergence of the Service’s seamless indigenous customs unified management system, otherwise known as B’Odogwu.
Addressing media executives in a media luncheon at the command head office, he averred that the platform was born, grown and managed without any foreign contributions and it has come to correct some of the lacuna in Nigeria integrated Customs information system (NICIS), insisting that whereas the (NICIS) was absolutely controlled by the foreigners, our B’Odogwu is home-grown.
Giving further insights on the workings of the platform, a senior Customs officer manning the scheme at PTML, Assistant Comptroller, Abass Oyindamola explained that NICIS was never very reliable as we currently it have it in B’Odogwu which is born, grown and working without any form of international interferences.
“The narrative that every delay at the port is caused by Customs is no longer tenable. B-Odogwu enables faster processing, transparency, and accountability. Our ICT unit is fully involved, and our officers have embraced this digital transformation,” Abbas stated.
According to him, B’Odogwu, Customs clearance procedures and processes would be seamless while noting that the essence was to ensure that containers are released within a short period of time.
He added that the platform has ready-made solutions for every issues raised and has capacity to fast track trade facilitation.
Oladepo added further that B’Odogwu has reduced cases of demurrages in clearing goods, insisting that any observed delays in processing clearance can be traced from terminals and no more Customs end.
On issues of complaints, Oladepo revealed that there are dedicated help desks and lines anyone can access to get solutions in real time.
Continuing on his secrets of success at Tincan Command, Compt. Onyeka averred that “When I took over here almost 6 months ago, I discovered some factors militating against trade facilitation like multiple alert and stopping of already cleared containers by compliance team.”
“Am happy to announce to you that multiple alert is gone at Tincan Island Port ” He stated.
While paying glowing tribute to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for his innovation and leadership style, Onyeka made it clear that such have resulted in the huge successes recorded in Nigeria Customs Service today especially in the Areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling and stakeholders engagement among others.
