KOREDE DAMIFOGO
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday announced the integration of its new indigenous Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), known as B’Odogwu, into the National Single Window (NSW) platform.
The announcement came during a meeting in Lagos between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the leadership of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), convened to address concerns over the suspended four per cent Free on Board (FOB) policy.
Adeniyi disclosed that the NSW would be launched before the end of the first quarter of 2026, adding that Customs had already streamlined checkpoints to ease trade across major corridors.
“The manufacturing sector is the backbone of our industrial development, and its success directly connects to our nation’s prosperity,” Adeniyi said. “While the 4% FOB charge is a legal provision under the NCS Act 2023, effective implementation requires genuine consultations like the ones we’re having today.”
He highlighted initiatives already underway to support manufacturers, including the rollout of the B’Odogwu platform, deployment of digital clearance systems, and the creation of one-stop shops to simplify engagements between manufacturers, Customs, and other regulatory agencies.
According to him, these measures will cut bureaucracy, reduce delays, and enhance the ease of doing business. Adeniyi also pledged sustained dialogue with industry stakeholders to balance revenue generation with industrial growth.
“Manufacturing drives innovation, creates jobs, and builds the foundation for economic independence. Our role is to facilitate legitimate trade, while yours is to drive production and employment. These roles are complementary, and structured dialogue like this ensures better outcomes,” he said.
On his part, MAN President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, described the suspended 4% FOB charge as a major concern for manufacturers, stressing that the meeting came at a critical time for the sector.
“It is important to say that we are meeting under difficult circumstances for our members. No better time to reignite this collaboration than now,” Meshioye said. “We shall be addressing pertinent issues that have impaired our operations in the past few weeks, particularly the introduction of 4% FOB and the rollout of the B’Odogwu platform.”
He reaffirmed MAN’s commitment to working with government and regulators to streamline trade processes, lower port-related costs, and boost industrial competitiveness.