In a bid to consolidate the gains of its newly deployed Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), codenamed B’odogwu, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified engagement with key financial stakeholders, including Access Bank, to strengthen trade finance integration and system-wide efficiency.
At a virtual meeting held on Monday, April 14, 2025, the NCS leadership, led by Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeola, engaged top officials of Access Bank on aligning operational frameworks to support seamless financial transactions and digital trade facilitation.
Other participants from the Customs side included the Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, and Assistant Comptroller Bukola Omoniyi from the ICT/Modernisation Department.
DCG Adeola emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Customs Service and financial institutions, noting that the B’odogwu platform has already revolutionized customs processes by unifying procedures, automating declarations, and enabling real-time transaction monitoring.
“The deployment of B’odogwu marks a new era in Customs administration. Our focus now is on strengthening partnerships with stakeholders like Access Bank to fully realize the platform’s potential for automation, transparency, and trade efficiency,” she stated.
She described the engagement as a strategic step toward achieving full integration of all actors in the trade value chain.
In response, Olatunbosun Oladunke, Head of Global Trade at Access Bank, commended the NCS for its bold strides in digital transformation and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to interoperability and support for trade finance automation.
“The B’odogwu platform represents a significant leap in digital trade processing. Access Bank is fully aligned with the NCS vision and will ensure system compatibility, especially in trade finance and payment automation,” Oladunke said.
Also speaking, Olakunle Aderinokun, Head of Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings/Access Bank, underscored the need for stakeholder engagement and public enlightenment to drive acceptance and effective implementation.
“Public buy-in is critical to the success of any reform. We will work with the Customs Service to raise awareness about the B’odogwu system and its benefits for the trading community,” he assured.
The engagement is part of NCS’s broader post-deployment strategy to accelerate its trade modernization agenda through stakeholder partnerships, innovation, and enhanced transparency.
With B’odogwu now operational, the Nigeria Customs Service is steadily advancing towards a fully digital, integrated, and globally compliant customs ecosystem that supports the nation’s economic growth.
