B'Odogwu has come to Stay, Says Compt Frank Onyeka, Tincan Island Port Customs Area Controller

The Tincan Island Port customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka says, that the indigenous customs unified management system, otherwise known as B'Odogwu has come to say. 

This assertion was made weekend during a media parley with some Maritime Journalists at Tincan Island Port headquarters in Lagos. 

Comptroller Onyeka who used the opportunity to highlight the essence of the indigenous technology stated that the platform has come to correct some of the lacuna in Nigeria integrated Customs information system (NICIS) , insisting that (NICIS) was absolutely controlled by the foreigners. 

He emphasized that with B'Odogwu, Customs clearance procedures and processes would be seamless while noting that the essence was to ensure that containers are released within a short period of time. 

His words. "When I took over here almost 6 months ago, I discovered some factors militating against trade facilitation like multiple alert and stopping of already cleared containers by compliance team." 

"Am happy to announce to you that multiple alert is gone at Tincan Island Port " He stated. 

Comptroller Onyeka who paid a glowing tribute to the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for his innovation and leadership style insisted that such has resulted in the huge successes recorded in Nigeria Customs Service today especially in the Areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation,anti smuggling and stakeholders engagement among others. 

Underscoring the essence of the media to ensure a smooth operations of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Onyeka said, 

"I am here today not to target the media but to celebrate you. Your reportage, your thought-provoking headlines, and your engagements have helped shape our actions and successes. 

Many of the reforms and issues we addressed stemmed directly from your feedback,” he noted 

Speaking further on B'Odogwu Compt.Onyeka insisted that it was a local response to the deficiencies of the (NICIS) and was conceived, developed, and managed entirely by Nigerian Customs ICT professionals without foreign interference .

His words : "B-Odogwu is our pride. It is a Customs-created solution meant to drive trade consultations and ensure seamless clearance processes. We’re addressing issues before they even arise. It’s not perfect, but we’ve solved over 90% of the problems we inherited,” He emphasized. 

For clearer understanding of B'Odogwu, the project Manager of the indigenous platform, Assistant Comptroller,Abass Oyindamola, who was part of the event, reiterated that the new platform would ensure real-time solutions to trade-related problems even as he asserted that it would also help in reducing delays that lead to demurrage. 

Hear him, “The narrative that every delay at the port is caused by Customs is no longer tenable. B-Odogwu enables faster processing, transparency, and accountability. Our ICT unit is fully involved, and our officers have embraced this digital transformation,” Abbas stated. 

Commenting on the event, a foremost, Maritime Journalist and a veteran Elder AsuBeks who spoke on behalf of other journalists, described Comptroller Onyeka as a "Digital CAC", lauding him for providing such an opportunity to merry with the journalists, saying the event was unprecedented and historic worthy of emulation. 

 He praised his open-door policy and inclusiveness among his officers and men, sister agencies, maritime stakeholders and more especially the media. 

"This is a CAC that listens, acts, and leads with empathy. He brings stakeholders together and makes collaboration a core of his strategy. I have covered this beat for years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Asubeks said.

The event was attended by Maritime publishers, correspondents, media executives, stakeholders and some officers and men of the Tincan Island Customs Area Command.

By Bon Peters, from Port Harcourt, Rivers State

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