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CUSTOMS: Adeniyi Launches ‘B’Odogwu’, A Trade -Efficiency Boosting Unified Management System

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CUSTOMS: Adeniyi Launches 'B'Odogwu', A Trade -Efficiency Boosting Unified Management System

… says the initiative will enhance and streamline end-to-end business processes and provide stakeholders with customised integration capabilities!

Against the backdrop of a lacklustre system performance on the ground, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, in Lagos, launched the B’Odogwu, a new Unified Customs Management System that will enhance and streamline end-to-end business processes while providing stakeholders with customised integration capabilities.

Described as a milestone, the laudable initiative consequently started with a pilot phase, at the Port & Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML).

“B’Odogwu will enhance our ability to streamline end-to-end business processes, provide stakeholders with customised integration capabilities, support more efficient and intelligent business decisions, and facilitate ease of doing business”, the Comptroller General of Customs CGC, Adewale Adeniyi told related stakeholders.

Before now, a cross-section of industry watchers had increasingly noted the inadequacies of what was on the ground. The development which unfolded at PTML Command, on Wednesday, 23 October 2024, was, therefore, more of setting a new standard and a legacy.

The CGC echoed a similar view when he observed that the innovative platform represented a significant milestone in Nigeria Customs’ modernisation journey, aligning with global best practices.

“B’Odogwu is our new Customs management system that embodies our vision for a paperless Customs administration that facilitates seamless trade while maintaining robust security measures”, the CGC, Adewale Adeniyi said, adding:

“It is important to note that B’Odogwu will eventually replace the current Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) as the NCS Legacy System. 

“The system has been developed with foresight, acknowledging that the National Single Window will be coming on board soon, and B’Odogwu will be integrated with it when implemented by the Federal Government”, he stated. 

He also acknowledged that the initiative is fully supported by the legal framework provided in the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

 “Specifically, sections 28 and 29 of the Act empower the Service to develop, maintain, and employ electronic systems while ensuring transparency and stakeholder consultation.” 

Speaking further, the CGC urged stakeholders to embrace the change with optimism and provide constructive feedback that will help improve the system. 

“As we commence this pilot, I urge all stakeholders to embrace this change with optimism and provide constructive feedback that will help us refine and improve the system, as your input is crucial to the success of this initiative.”

“B’Odogwu will enhance our ability to streamline end-to-end business processes, provide stakeholders with customised integration capabilities, support more efficient and intelligent business decisions, and facilitate ease of doing business.”

The Comptroller General expressed gratitude to terminal operators, customs officers, licensed customs agents, and the Trade Modernisation Project team for their support and commitment to the project’s success.

He charged officers of the PTML command to take training associated with the initiative seriously as they will implement it in other commands. 

“You will now play the role of pace setters in the Nigeria Customs Service. It is being sown here; we are going to nurture it to fruition here, and we want to assure you that it will work.”

A stakeholder who spoke on condition of anonymity told Maritime First that the CGC Adewale Adeniyi’s robust performance was a classic case of a Nigerian who prepared himself before the opportunity came!

Odogwu is a Nigerian word which means the mighty!

The Customs Service image maker, Abdullahi Maiwada highlighted that the “system’s development is a collaborative effort, between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Trade Modernisation Project team”.

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Economy

PETROL: ‘Be Wary Of Substandard Product Dumping’, Dangote Refinery Tells Nigerians

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PETROL: 'Be Wary Of Substandard Product Dumping', Dangote Refinery Tells Nigerians

…Says citizens’ health and vehicle longevity are seriously at risk!

The Dangote Refinery on Sunday warned that Nigerians may soon begin to buy substandard petrol, without much concern for either the citizen’s health or the longevity of their vehicles, except care is taken to prevent low products dumping by those open to connive with certain international traders.

The Group’s image maker and spokesman, Anthony Chiejina gave the warning, saying the group was constrained to raise the alarm, despite its desire to refrain from engaging in any media fights.

“We have lately refrained from engaging in media fights but we are constrained to respond to the recent misinformation being circulated by IPMAN, PETROAN, and other associations. 

“Both organisations claim that they can import PMS at lower prices than what is being sold by the Dangote Refinery. We benchmark our prices against international prices and we believe our prices are competitive relative to the price of imports”, Chiejina stated, stressing that the issue on ground was not about being able to land relatively cheaper petrol on ground, but the quality of such products.

“If anyone claims they can land PMS at a price cheaper than what we are selling, then they are importing substandard products and conniving with international traders to dump low-quality products into the country, without concern for the health of Nigerians or the longevity of their vehicles. Unfortunately, the regulator (NMDPRA) does not even have laboratory facilities which can be used to detect substandard products when imported into the country.

“Post deregulation, NNPC set the pace by selling PNS to domestic marketers at N971 per litre for sale into ships and at N990 for sale into trucks. This set the benchmark for our pricing and we have even gone lower to sell at N960 per litre for sale into ships while maintaining N990 per litre for sale into trucks.

“In good faith, and the interest of the country, we commenced sales at these prices without clarity on the exchange rate that we will use to pay for the crude purchased.

“At the same time, an international trading company has recently hired a depot facility next to the Dangote Refinery, intending to use it to blend substandard products that will be dumped into the market to compete with Dangote Refinery’s higher quality production.

“This is detrimental to the growth of domestic refining in Nigeria. We should point out that it is not unusual for countries to protect their domestic industries to provide jobs and grow the economy. For example, the US and Europe have had to impose high tariffs on EVs and microchips to protect their domestic industries.

“While we continue with our determination to provide affordable, good quality, domestically refined petroleum products in Nigeria, we call on the public to disregard the deliberate disinformation being circulated by agents of people who prefer for us to continue to export jobs and import poverty”, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer further said.

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CUSTOMS: Nigeria Adopts Advanced Tech, Improves Capacity For Data Analytics, And Service Delivery

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CUSTOMS: Nigeria Adopts Advanced Tech, Improves Capacity For Data Analytics, And Service Delivery

…Adeniyi says strengthening relations with Korea has enhanced the nation’s alignment with the World Customs Organization standards

The Nigeria Customs Service NCS is quietly strengthening the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea, and this has resulted in Nigeria recording several gains, including NCS’s capacity to adopt advanced technologies, in addition to engagement in data analytics programmes.

The Maritime First learnt that an impressed Korean Embassy on Thursday, 31 October 2024, hosted a formal dinner in honour of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi and members of his management team at the Embassy in Abuja.

“Learning from global leaders, like Korean Customs, has empowered us to adapt and refine our data-driven strategies,” the CGC stated, adding:

“It is due to our dedicated partnerships that the NCS is now engaged in data analytics programmes, in alignment with World Customs Organization standards,” CGC Adeniyi stated. 

“Learning from global leaders, like Korean Customs, has empowered us to adapt and refine our data-driven strategies”

The event underscored the strengthening of bilateral relations and the shared objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Korean authorities.

The CGC Adeniyi who was accompanied by senior officers including Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG) of Human Resource Development, Greg Itotoh, DCG of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, and DCG of ICT-Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeola, expressed his appreciation for Korea’s commitment to partnership. 

In his address, CGC Adeniyi highlighted the progress achieved through collaboration with the Embassy of Korea and other allied agencies, noting how these relationships have enhanced the NCS’s capacity to adopt advanced technologies.

“It is due to our dedicated partnerships that the NCS is now engaged in data analytics programmes, in alignment with World Customs Organization standards,” CGC Adeniyi stated. 

 “We are honoured by the comptroller general’s presence here tonight, and we look forward to further strengthening ties with the Nigeria Customs Service”

He elaborated on how these analytics enable the Service to make informed decisions, benefiting from predictive, descriptive, and prescriptive insights.

The Korean Ambassador, His Excellency Kim Pankym, in response, commended the CGC and his team for their dedication and expressed optimism about continued collaboration.

 

“We are honoured by the Comptroller-General’s presence here tonight, and we look forward to further strengthening ties with the Nigeria Customs Service,” Ambassador Pankym said. He emphasised the Embassy’s commitment to supporting the growth and modernisation of the NCS.

In his remarks, DCG Greg Itoto expressed the Service’s appreciation for Korea’s proactive engagement with NCS initiatives.

 

“The Embassy’s support and willingness to partner with us are instrumental in driving our Service to greater heights. We look forward to continued growth through these collaborations,” Itotoh stated.

The evening reflected the deepening relations between the two nations and affirmed Korea’s dedication to Nigeria’s customs modernisation and capacity-building efforts.

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NCS, WCO Launch Gender Diversity Workshop To Strengthen Inclusivity

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NCS, WCO Launch Gender Diversity Workshop To Strengthen Inclusivity

…As Management works at fostering a workplace that offers every Customs officer equal opportunities for growth and success

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Customs Organization (WCO), has launched a workshop on “Gender Diversity” at the Old Federal Secretariat in Garki, Abuja.

The event, which commenced on Monday, 28 October 2024, reaffirmed the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s commitment to creating a work environment where every officer is empowered to thrive, regardless of gender.

The workshop was officially declared open by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs for Tariff and Trade, DCG Caroline Niagwan, represented by the NCS’s National Contact Point, Chief Superintendent of Customs Zara Musa.

Addressing attendees, CSC Musa underscored the workshop’s importance in fostering a workplace that offers every Customs officer equal opportunities for growth and success.

CSC Zara stated, “This workshop will allow officers to contribute fully to the Service’s success, regardless of gender. CGC Adeniyi remains committed to nurturing a gender-inclusive environment within the NCS.”

It is worth noting that the workshop follows a previous capacity-building session hosted by the NCS in April 2024 on gender inclusivity at Wells Carlston Apartments in Abuja.

The National Contact Point stated, “These initiatives form a series of efforts under CGC Adeniyi’s tenure aimed at advancing gender equality across the Service, promoting a culture where diverse perspectives contribute to enhanced Customs operations.”

Jennifer Goistene Burs, a resource person with the WCO from Botswana, addressed participants, highlighting the strategic impact of gender inclusivity on service delivery.

“We are committed to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in finalising the draft action plan on Gender Equality and Diversity (GED), which was developed following the sub-regional workshop organised in April,” she said.

Burs noted that the implementation of this action plan would be instrumental in embedding diversity within the Service’s operations.

Additional experts included Sendra Chihaka from Zimbabwe and Johanna Tornstrom, both of whom contributed insights on strategies for fostering a workplace culture that values and supports the contributions of all officers.

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