The Customs Area Controller of Apapa Port Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to enhancing the performance of its Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as B’Odogwu. This comes on the heels of a remarkable revenue collection of ₦161,258,483,474.63 between August 1st and 22nd, 2025.
Speaking after a series of high-level stakeholder engagements led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, Comptroller Olomu expressed confidence in the B’Odogwu platform’s potential to exceed expectations and facilitate trade more efficiently than previous systems.
He commended stakeholders—especially those operating within Apapa Command—for their patience and resilience during recent system downtimes, saying that their trust in the Nigeria Customs Service is not misplaced. He emphasized that the Service’s ICT department is working tirelessly to resolve technical challenges and deliver a seamless user experience.
Highlighting Apapa Command’s strategic importance to national revenue and trade facilitation, Olomu noted that the CGC has maintained active dialogue with the Nigerian Shippers Council to address the impact of system disruptions, including efforts to secure demurrage waivers from terminal operators and shipping lines.
Stakeholder engagement has also intensified at the command level, with Zonal Coordinator Charles Orbih visiting Apapa to directly address concerns raised by importers, licensed customs agents, and freight forwarders.
In a bid to accelerate clearance processes and reduce delays, Comptroller Olomu has directed officers to extend their working hours beyond the regular Monday–Friday schedule, including weekends, to clear backlogs and restore operational efficiency.
“I am pleased with the maturity, patience, understanding and support we have received from our stakeholders in the past and most recent times. Their confidence in Nigeria Customs Service ability to overcome and resolve all network glitches is not misplaced. It further underscores our shared values as patriotic Nigerians who want to see our homegrown ICT initiative thrive,” Comptroller Olomu stated.