Nigeria Customs Service Flags Off Form ‘M’ Process On B’Odogwu Trade Portal
By Asuquo Nuwak
Nigeria Customs Service Flags Off Form ‘M’ Process On B’Odogwu Trade Portal
The Nigeria Customs Service has successfully commenced the pilot phase of processing Form ‘M’ through the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System in all commands of the Service.
According to a press release made available by Abdullahi Maiwada, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, National Public Relations officer, this initiative represents another bold step in the Service’s technology-driven reforms to modernise trade procedures and enhance operational efficiency.
Disclosing the Service’s approval to integrate the Form M process into the B’Odogwu Trade Portal, the release said preparatory activities commenced across three designated Customs Commands, which include Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML), Tin Can Island Port, and Apapa Area Command.
The release said these sites were selected to drive the pilot phase in a controlled and strategic environment, allowing for close monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and performance assessment.
Specifically, a total of 544 Form M entries were processed. Out of these figures, 283 were successfully registered, 10 were validated, and 26 were stored for further action. Beyond that, 41 entries were submitted, 120 were returned for corrections, 11 were queried, 14 had their PAARs locked, while 39 were recommended for approval. According to the press release, these figures reflect the robust testing and iterative learning across all participating commands.
Aside from this, a total of 37 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) were generated from the processed Forms M. Out of these, 7 PAARs were registered, 12 had their Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) processed, 2 were fully approved, 8 were recommended for further review, 4 were submitted for processing, while 4 were queried.
The report said this outcome confirms the operational capacity of the B’Odogwu system to support end-to-end trade documentation during live implementation.
The report noted that the successful implementation of the Form M pilot on the B’Odogwu platform signals the beginning of a nationwide transition that will streamline customs documentation, enhance transparency, and promote faster clearance timelines.
In order to enhance trade facilitation and supply chain security in the on-going pilot phase, the Service encourages all carriers, shipping lines and airlines, to commence transmission of manifests to the B’dogwu platform, while ensuring that all key stakeholders, particularly the financial institutions and traders, are adequately engaged and prepared for full deployment.
The report said, under the visionary leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the Service will continue to pursue strategic automation initiatives that will consolidate its role in trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national development.
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