In an era where technology drives efficiency, transparency, and accountability, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a bold and commendable step toward transforming its operations through the innovative Odogwu B System. This homegrown digital solution is rapidly becoming a model for customs modernization, and it reflects the NCS’s renewed commitment to embracing smart technology in a bid to block revenue leakages, enhance trade facilitation, and combat corruption.
Unveiled in 2023, the Odogwu B System was born from the vision of the current Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, and was developed internally by a team of dedicated NCS officers led by Deputy Comptroller Benjamin Odo, a seasoned ICT expert in the Service.
A Name That Inspires Confidence
Nicknamed “Odogwu B,” a popular Nigerian phrase meaning “great man” or “champion,” the system carries both symbolic and operational weight. It represents a strong, indigenous solution, proving that local capacity can provide world-class solutions to national challenges. By relying on in-house expertise, the NCS avoided the heavy cost of foreign consultants and created a platform tailored to Nigeria’s unique customs environment.
Transparency, Trade Facilitation, and Revenue Assurance
One of the most significant benefits of the Odogwu B System is its ability to minimize human contact and manipulation. By automating valuation and clearance processes, it reduces the room for corrupt practices, improves turnaround time for cargo processing, and instills confidence in international trade partners.
The system enabled the Service to track consignments in real time, detect under-declarations, and flag suspicious transactions all of which contribute to increased government revenue. The digital trail it creates also improves post-clearance audit efficiency and supports policy formulation with accurate data analytics.
According to CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,“The Odogwu B System is part of our resolve to implement home-grown, technology-driven solutions that not only boost revenue collection but also promote transparency and efficiency in line with global customs standards.”
Officers’ Acceptance and Stakeholder Buy-In
Unlike many top-down digital interventions, Odogwu B System has garnered impressive buy-in from both officers and stakeholders. Field officers praised the system’s user-friendly interface and the reduction in procedural bottlenecks. Licensed customs agents and importers also commend its effectiveness in reducing delays, thus lowering demurrage costs and enhancing Nigeria’s ease of doing business ranking.
“The Odogwu B System is a major relief for us,It gives us real-time feedback and eliminates the usual frustrations we face with physical documentation.”said a licensed clearing agent operating at the Tin Can Island Port.
A Future-Oriented Vision
The introduction of the Odogwu B System aligned with the Federal Government’s digital economy policy and positions the NCS as a forward-thinking agency. By digitizing its operations, the NCS is contributing not just to national revenue goals but also to the broader vision of building a 21st-century Nigerian civil service.
It also opened up opportunities for inter-agency collaboration, especially with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and other players in the logistics and supply chain ecosystem.
The Odogwu B System is a shining example of innovation birthed from within. It is not only bridging efficiency gaps but also setting the pace for what a tech-driven public service in Nigeria can achieve. As the NCS continues to fine-tune and expand the system’s capabilities, Nigerians can look forward to a future where customs operations are smarter, faster, and more transparent.
Indeed, with the Odogwu B System, the Nigeria Customs Service is not just raising the bar it is redefining it.
*Lukman Laleye Babalola is Publisher/CEO, Emporium Reporters and Emporium Magazine, can be reached via; [email protected] ,08037469328
