B’Odogwu is Customs’ New Revenue Collection Life-Wire that has brought upward swing in Revenue Mobilisation – Comptroller Daniyan …Says, PTML Records Highest Monthly Revenue of N44.9B in November under the scheme, Customs will surmount teething challenges.  

Comptroller TM Daniyan, CAC, PTML Command, NCS addressing the press

B’Odogwu is Customs’ New Revenue Collection Life-Wire that has brought upward swing in Revenue Mobilisation – Comptroller Daniyan            

Says, PTML Records Highest Monthly Revenue of N44.9B in November under the scheme, Customs will surmount teething challenges.                

B’Odogwu has come to stay at PTM and the Nigeria Customs Service. We have been disconnected from NICIS II, it has gone for good, and has now become our Egypt. Every Nigerian that wants to leave slavery to freedom will embrace B’Odogwu. It has so far been a blessing all through the pilot scheme period. All trade processes at PTML presently are done under B’Odogwu scheme, and the command have generated the highest monthly revenue collection so far with N44.9 Billion in November under the scheme.

These were the exact words of Arc. TM Daniyan, Customs Area Controller (CAC), PTML Command during a press briefing held yesterday December 04, 2024 at the command on the positive effect of B’Odogwu’s Modernisation platform for the command and the service against the backdrop of recent negative media attacks on the indigenous scheme.

Comptroller (Arc) TM Daniyan, CAC, PTML, Command, NCS

It was a briefing filled with passion for B’Odogwu, an indigenous modernisation content and platform that have so far given an on the job satisfaction to users, as Comptroller (Arc) TM Daniyan, the Customs Area Controller of Ports Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command, reeled out positive reports that have so far being benefited under the local scheme, against alleged backlash from some agents, others, who the CAC said are oppose change.         

At the briefing held at the command on Wednesday December 04, 2024, Comptroller Tenny Daniyan said the new customs trading platform B’Odogwu has recorded huge success since it was rolled out at the area command under his watch as its pilot stage with increased revenue.

The elated CAC disclosed to newsmen at the conference that the command’s revenue has surged under the scheme with the collection of N44.9b in November 2024 alone, thus making it the highest monthly collection ever made in the history of the command.

Comptroller Daniyan and some of his management team during the briefing

Daniyan revealed that in addition to over five (5) banks already hooked up to the system, the NCS ICT/Modernisation Department has concluded arrangement for the (17) banks that are on inter-switch payment platform coming onboard. “The Customs headquarters have started interactions with the banks and this would be addressed very soon by Thursday,” the CAC said.

The Area Controller has also denied trending reports, alleging that four vessels have been unattended to at the PTML berth due to B’Odogwu failure, which he noted as untrue.              

He however disclosed that the command met with some of the stakeholders earlier in the week where all issues bordering on the challenges experienced by agents were addressed and they were advised to engage the implementation team for further assistance.

In addition, he said that to facilitate trade, the command has bent backwards by applying manual methods to process cargoes and has established interface with the terminal operator to accommodate port users that have made entries on the platform.

Daniyan also said that most agents claiming inability to capture have not registered on the B’Odogwu platform, as he urged them to come forward for capture to address any challenge.

According to the CAC, “B’Odogwu is a Nigerian baby that should be fed by Nigerians. We are weaning our baby from a foreign mother and I urge all Nigerians to support it. We are not going back to NICIS II. The use of NICIS II platform has come to an end in PTML as this is the position of the Service.

“We are aware that some of our agents are yet to be fully acquainted with the additional requirements that were not involved in NICIS II. As the problems come up, we are solving them.

“Note that the management has dispatched an implementation team here to ensure our stakeholders don’t suffer. We were disconnected from NICIS II three months ago and we have fully commenced implementation to grow our own teeth and serve the country better. We have left NICIS here in PTML.

“We are committed to get it right here before moving to Tin Can and other ports. Our turn-around time for properly declared RoRo cargo is still two hours but this is dependent on compliance by the declarant. As a command, we will not sacrifice national security and revenue on the altar of trade facilitation.

“So far in November, 292 bills of laden have been captured in November, 375 are yet to capture. As at today, Wednesday over 98 people have paid their duties under B’Odogwu platform as more banks are coming on board” the CAC said.