The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has explained why management decided to exit NICIS II for B-Odogwu, for cargo clearance at the port.
NICIS II is basically a computerised system designed to harmonise and standardise customs procedures in the country and to enhance the user experience, leading to better management and improved productivity in the Nigeria Customs Service.
The exit of NICIS II may not be unconnected to the constant disruption of cargo clearance occasioned by the frequent collapse of customs internet servers in the last few months.
Daily Trust observed that the frequent disruption of cargo clearance processes by the collapse of servers might affect revenue targets.
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It would be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service set a revenue target of N5.08 trillion for 2024.
Speaking with our correspondent, the CGC said NICIS II, which was foisted on the current management, expired as of December 31, 2022, noting that officially, by all service records, the agreement had terminated.
“Since that time, we did not have anything to do with them. There have been a number of issues related to how we are going to manage the winding up of the contract. That is why you still have some feelers of their presence in some of our locations. We started this pilot…ideally, they are supposed to hand over that system to us while it is still running.“
Giving an overview of B-Odogwu, the CGC took stakeholders and Nigerians on a tour of the new customised indigenous system, as the first in the subregion if not the continent, to get introduced into the World Customs Organisation.
“For over one hour, l have been engaging with our stakeholders, the terminal operators, on a major landmark development. It is for on the spot assessment of the roll-out of ‘B Odogwu’ and that is our new unified customs management system.
“It is indeed an important achievement and a significant milestone in our journey towards modernising Nigeria customs operations and aligning those operations with global best practice.
“The exercise that we are undergoing is firmly rooted in the policy force of the customs management upon my assumption of office, and this emphasises the need to consolidate on the previous gains while boldly embracing innovative solutions to long-standing challenges.
“It is worth noting that this initiative is fully supported by the legal framework provided with the Nigeria Custom Service Act 2023 and specifically in sections 28 and 29 of the Act which empowers us to develop, maintain and employ electronic systems, while ensuring transparency and stakeholders’ consultations.”
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