In an effort to modernise, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the pilot phase of processing Form M through its newly developed B’Odogwu Trade Portal, a Unified Customs Management System designed to enhance efficiency and transparency across Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
The pilot, launched across three key commands, Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML), Tin Can Island Port, and Apapa Area Command, marks a major technological leap in automating Customs procedures. These sites were strategically chosen to provide a controlled environment for performance evaluation and stakeholder engagement.
According to data released by the Service, 544 Form M entries were processed during the pilot. Of these, 283 were successfully registered, 10 validated, 26 stored for further action, while 41 were submitted and 39 recommended for approval. In a display of the system’s responsiveness, 120 entries were returned for corrections, 11 queried, and 14 had their Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) locked for further review.
From these efforts, 37 PAARs were generated, with 12 progressing to the Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) stage and 2 fully approved. The results affirm the B’Odogwu platform’s capacity for real-time, end-to-end customs processing and documentation.
“The successful implementation of the Form M pilot signals the start of a nationwide rollout that will transform the trade documentation process, reduce delays, and promote greater transparency,” the NCS said in a statement signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, National Public Relations Officer. To ensure seamless execution and enhance supply chain security, the Customs Service is urging shipping lines and airlines to begin transmitting manifests through the B’Odogwu platform.
The Service is also calling on banks, traders, and other stakeholders to get fully acquainted with the new system ahead of full-scale deployment.
Under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the NCS reiterated its commitment to leveraging digital solutions to drive trade facilitation, increase revenue generation, and support Nigeria’s economic development agenda.
This initiative is the latest in a series of tech-driven reforms from the Customs Service aimed at positioning Nigeria as a more competitive and business-friendly trading hub in the region.