By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Founder,National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has called for patience and understanding among stakeholders regarding the challenges faced by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in implementing the new B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
He emphasized that teething problems are expected during this transition period.
He also highlighted the importance of transparency and integrity in declarations to avoid pitfalls.
To support the NCS, Dr. Aniebonam proposed a 90-day grace period for non-compliant traders and provisional release of cargo during the refinement phase. He urged freight forwarders to invest in upskilling through training institutions focused on IT and port management.
Dr. Aniebonam also called for strategic funding of NCS, leveraging the Customs Act to properly fund the Service. He emphasized that Nigeria must set a standard for others to follow, given its current global attention as the Comptroller-General serves as Chairman of the World Customs Organisation.
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The Press release
BREAKING NEWS
B’ODOGWU INNOVATION IS INDENOUS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION, A TOOL FOR TRADE FACILITATION- LET US EXERCISE PATIENT AS NIGERIA CUSTOMS FINE TUNE IT’S ESSENCE
The attention of nagaff high command have been drawn to the difficulties in getting assessment just on time by the freight forwarders from the Bodogwu portal
It is to our knowledge about all the efforts the management team of the Nigeria customs service led by the comptroller General of Customs is making including but not limited to the various area commands through stakeholders engagement
At the moment the comptroller General of Customs have been moving around the western and eastern ports to ensure things are working well together with his officers at the zones
Just last week the comptroller of apapa port visited nagaff hqrs and our sister associations, and it’s on record that the comptroller of apapa, tcip, ptml and federal operations unit shall be following up the stakeholders to inform,educate and enlighten them , and in particular the DTI operators
What is certain is that we must go through the initial teething problems and we must equally appreciate the problems the service may be encountering to power the innovation
I have said severally that there’s the urgent need for customs administration to be properly and adequately funded to enable them achieve objectives, i strongly advise the government and in particular the national assembly and the executive to leverage the approved percentage of dues entered in the customs act, this shall help customs to achieve objectives of Bodogwu innovation and other administrative requirements
Nigeria customs service needed to be properly funded, and i must advise at the moment that Nigeria is in the eye of global customs administration, noting that the new responsibility bestowed on the comptroller General of Customs as chairman of world customs organisation is not a tea party . A lot is desirous of Nigeria under the circumstances
We must set a model for others to emulate, under the circumstances i do call upon the president of Nigeria to take special interest in the funding of Nigeria customs service in accordance with the customs laws and regulations
It is also important that i remind freight forwarders and shippers that this is the time for high level compliance on import and export regulations, B’ODOGWU INNOVATION may suffer thesame problems like NICIS 2 regime if we do not showcase integrity in our declarations for customs purposes
And for the customs service, it’s trite to note that laws are made to be obeyed, however i shall advise that a 90days grace period be granted to non compliant traders. This shall enable them to clear off their consignments indefault of import and export guidelines
It is also important that ncs mgt team and the board can give approval for provisional release of cargo while fine tuning the Bodogwu innovation, we must learn to do things by ourselves at this point in time
I hereby direct all the freight forwarders of Nigeria under the control and regulations of council for the regulation of freight forwarders of Nigeria– CRFFN to support the Nigeria customs service in their efforts to make things better for us in cargo clearance out of customs ports and borders
Education in IT application is hereby reemphasised, therefore freight forwarders must take advantage of nagaff academy and or any other educational institutions to earn knowledge and skills in customs matters and ports administration and management in cargo and logistics services
Dr aniebonam Boniface okechukwu
Founder nagaff
Ozo EBUBE CHUKWU UMUAWULU
He emphasized that teething problems are expected during this transition period.
This is contained in a statement signed the Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam.
According to the statement, Dr Aniebonam noted that the Comptroller-General of Customs and his team are actively engaging stakeholders to troubleshoot issues and strengthen collaboration.
He also highlighted the importance of transparency and integrity in declarations to avoid pitfalls.
To support the NCS, Dr. Aniebonam proposed a 90-day grace period for non-compliant traders and provisional release of cargo during the refinement phase. He urged freight forwarders to invest in upskilling through training institutions focused on IT and port management.
Dr. Aniebonam also called for strategic funding of NCS, leveraging the Customs Act to properly fund the Service. He emphasized that Nigeria must set a standard for others to follow, given its current global attention as the Comptroller-General serves as Chairman of the World Customs Organisation.
