The interested parties in the Nigerian commercial logistics chain have praised the B’odogwu platform of the Customs Service of Nigeria (NCS), stating that it has brought more transparency, an improved digital monitoring of the transactions and annihilated all the inactivity time that had been synonymous with Nicis II.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting of the City Council held in Lagos, the interested parties also enumerated the initial problems that still affect the B’odogwu system, which included the migration of Nicis II to B’odogwu, the inability of the banks to make amendments about B’odogwu, and the classification of the HS code between the organization of Nigeria standards (Son) and the National Agency for Food (NAFDAC).
Speaking after a discussion panel about the problems faced by the B’odogwu platform, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declared that the reason for the City Council meeting is to provide opportunities to the interested parties to provide comments on the B’odogwu system.
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According to CG Customs, “we have organized this City Council meeting because we want to listen to our interested parties with the B’odogwu system.
“In the last two weeks, I have had concerns about logging, Nici II’s migration to B’odogwu, payment problems and things like that.
“We had conversations with the authorized bank ten days ago. We received comments and commitments that they will address some of the problems that have been raised.
“I am also happy that the comments we have are not complaints. In fact, we have had a series of positive comments of some of our interested parties.
“What we have seen during the discussion panel shows that, for each processed change, there could be sacrifices that will be made.
“We also appreciate the fact that each change process raises some level of satisfaction. If the commitment is there, we will both benefit from the desired change we want to achieve.
“Then, we just want to encourage all those involved to continue collaborating and opening this type of platform, so that we take direct comments on how to improve.
“The fact that B’odogwu is causing a cost reduction, the cost of doing business, ease of doing business, while adding security threats, means that it has come to stay.
“Then, as we implement technology, we improve in the Balance Law, so that none of these mandates will have to suffer because we are implementing a free competition system.
“I am proud to say that this is a positive level of commitment of interested parties. We have many positive comments of users, terminal operators, and in fact we are grateful for that.
“The customs ICT has developed a set of frequent questions, and I have asked them to update this list with some new comments that we have received today. And they will make this document available.
“First, we will put it on our website. We will let all the officers in the various commands have copies of them. We will also try to translate them into English Pidgin so that those who may have access to Pidgin can see and relate to it.
“The Public Relations Unit will also give this document, so that they can develop an audio and video version, which we can share on all platforms.
“Then, we will take this commitment of interested parties outside of lakes. I am very sure that most of our colleagues in the Eastern ports will be very happy to have something similar to this. This commitment will be taken to the interested parties in the north and the east.”
In 4 percent free (FOB), the Customs Chief declared that his introduction will eliminate 1 percent of the integral import supervision scheme (CISS) and 7 percent of the cost of collection.
“Now, seriously speaking, in terms of 4 percent FOB that I talked about in the previous session, with the implementation of 4 percent FOB, the CISS of 1 percent and the cost of 7 percent collection, which is also being charged, will be completely eliminated.
“Speaking about the cost of 7 percent collection, the federation account is taken to administer customs operations. What this represents is that the three levels of the government, the federal government, the state government and the other subnationals, will comprise 70 percent of what is taken to the Federation account.
“That is what we have practiced in the last 10 years. However, under the new act, 4 percent of the FOB will be paid in advance, and that is all. Once this is done, it is 100 percent of the income generated by the customs that will go to the Federation account. Therefore, it will be a situation of winning for all of us..“