NAGAFF FOUNDER RALLIES STAKEHOLDERS TO EMBRACE NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE’ B’ODOGWU INNOVATION

Stakeholders in the Nigerian shipping industry appear to be having difficulties getting assessment on time for cargo clearance on the newly introduced B’Odogwu portal of the Nigerian Customs Service. The founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight, NAGAFF, Doctor BONIFACE ANIEBONAM, gave this indication in a statement. ANIEBONAM also said that the leadership was aware of efforts that are being made by the Customs management team to finetune the portal for better performance. ANIEBONAM urged the Federal Government to make provisions for improved funding of the Nigeria Customs Service to help achieve the objectives of the B’Odogwu innovation and other administrative requirements. He said that the Customs needed to be properly funded, especially that Nigeria is now in the eye of global customs administration, with the Comptroller General of Customs, BASHIR ADEWALE ADENIYI as Chairman of World Customs Organisation. The NAGAFF Founder expressed concern that the B'Odogwu innovation may suffer similar problems like previous initiatives, such as the ‘NICIS 2, if operators do not show integrity in declarations for customs purposes. On the part of the Customs, he advised the board and management team of the Service to consider allowing a ninety-day period of grace for non-compliant traders to clear off their consignments in default of import and export guidelines. He said the Customs can approve provisional release of cargo while finetuning the B’Odogwu Innovation. Doctor BONIFACE ANIEBONAM equally reminded freight forwarders and shippers about the need for high level compliance on import and export regulations.