Connect with us

Customs

How Webb Fontaine tried to sabotage B’Odogwu– Customs

–as Customs generates N120 billion revenue on new platform in PTML pilot scheme.

–Main One fiber system to drive Odogwu connectivity — CGC Adeniyi 
Funso OLOJO 
Facts have emerged on how Webb Fontaine, the service provider engaged by the Federal Government in 2009 to drive the trade portal of the Nigeria Customs Service, tried for inexplicable reason, to abort the operation of B’ Odogwu at the PTML.
B’ Odogwu, the indigenous trade portal system developed by the Customs to enhance the modernisation of its operations, was test – run at the PTML command of the service in a pilot stage in September, 2024.

However, Webb Fontaine, which developed the outdated Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) , had its services disengaged by the Federal government when it was sacked and replaced by another concessionaire,Trade Modernisation Project (TMP)Limited, which developed a new software, B’Odogwu with the Customs to replace the old NICIS software.
Apparently angered by its sack and its old software discarded, Webb Fontaine shut down its infrastructure at the PTML in order to frustrate the pilot stage of B’Odogwu.

According to Comptroller Tenny Mankini Daniyan, the Area Controller of the PTML, the action of the sacked service provider nearly aborted the pilot scheme of B’Odogwu as the operations at the command came to a halt and customs agents deserted the command and took their entries to the Tin Can Island command.
” In September 2024 when the pilot scheme of B’Odogwu took off at the PTML, the infrastructure of the new system was deployed in all areas of the command and the bonded terminals.
“Immediately the infrastructure was deployed, we had an issue with the NICIS.
” Webb Fontaine disconnected the command from their system.
“So all jobs were taken to the Tin Can Island command.

” But we summoned courage and on November 11th, 2024, we decided to put a stop to the use of NICIS entirely since the service provider did not want us to use their infrastructure.
” So we discontinued the use of Webb Fontaine platform and instructed the management of the PTML to start transmitting only on Odogwu” Comptroller Daniyan disclosed.
However, six months down the line since September 2024 when the indigenous platform debuted in the PTML, it has been a success story as the Customs braved the odds and surmounted the teething problems and initial challenges posed by the sacked service provider.
According to the PTML Area Comptroller, for the three months B’Odogwu was deployed in a pilot stage, the command treated 16, 000 entries fully paid for and realized revenue in excess of  N120billion.
” We had our challenges but with the co-orporation of all stakeholders and the determination of the customs’ management team led by CGC Wale Adeniyi, we were able to pull through.

” Anything technology must have glitches but the beauty is that it is the indigenous effort initiated and deployed by indigenous customs officers.
” From then till date, it has been smooth sailing and that was why the management has the courage to decide to roll out the system in Tin Can and Apapa commands” the PTML CAC declared.
He disclosed that other challenges such as the resistance of the Authorized Dealer Banks to come on board B’Odogwu has been resolved.
” The stakeholders were initially sceptical about the new system but now they have embraced it” Comptroller Daniyan said.
Stakeholders present at the demonstration of B’Odogwu acknowledged the efficiency of the new system, admitting that it is faster than NICIS.
” No more delays, no more demerrage payments” a Chieftain of the National Council of the Managing Directors of the Licensed Customs Agents(NCMDLCA) declared.
Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller- General of Customs, who led his management team to a pre- launch of the indigenous platform on Monday, March 3rd, 2025 at Apapa command, declared that the issue of the initial resistance of the Authorized Dealer Banks (ADBs) has been sorted out with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardozo, who had ordered the banks to key into the new system.
Adeniyi, who took his team with the media on the demonstration tour of B’Odogwu at the Customs Processing Centre(CPC), Apapa command, explained the capacity and novelty of the new indigenous platform which he said was more efficient than the discarded NICIS.

” The server driving NICIS is old, outdated, bogus and complex.
“It ocupies a whole room at the Customs Headquarters, Abuja.
” It was installed more than 15 years ago but the world has since moved on.
” But the server driving B’Odogwu is more modern, compact, strong, efficient with bigger capacity than NICIS.
” It is not complex and bogus. It takes a small space , like a shower room, at the headquarters.
“The new system processes faster than what we had before.
” I am happy that as I entered the Apapa command, the first facility I saw was the support group office which shall support stakeholders whenever they have any challenge with the system.
On the connectivity platform that will drive B’Odogwu, Adeniyi said they have the best hands in IT technology that is driving the system.
He declared that the system will be driven by Main One, an indigenous connectivity system which has been proven to provide capacity of at least 4.96  Tbps.
” Connectivity is central to the new system.We are taking the best hands in the country in terms of connectivity to drive B’Odogwu.
” We are launching Odogwu on Main One. Main One will drive all our connectivity issues in Apapa and Tin Can, Onnne and all the major ports.
Adeniyi also disclosed that the service has plan B, a contingency plan to deal with glitches.
” We are going to also have Plan B in case the connectivity with Main One fails.
” There might be glitches, when it happens, the most important thing is that we are going to put in place a contingency plan to address the issue of glitches when it happens” the CGC declared.
He said there was no going back in the determination of the service to deploy the indigenous platform.
” We are focused on rolling out this platform. No going back on this .
” We have learnt very useful lessons from the pilot stage at the  PTML.
” We shall ensure that the implementation is seamless and sustained.”
” That is why I and my management team came down personally to Apapa to roll out the system and ensure it is seamless”
Adeniyi acknowledged the fact that there are still outstanding challenges with the system.
” We did not roll out the the system in the PTML with the integration of Form M and PAAR.
” Now we have gotten to a point when all the banks have signed up and decided to key into the system as we roll out so that PAAR and Form M will be part of the new system in Apapa and Tin Can ports.
” Once we capture that, we can conveniently say that we have captured almost 70 to 80 per cent of our operations.” the CGC declared, exuding optimism about the success of the new system.
He declared that the priority of the service is to facilitate trade much more than to generate revenue, even though revenue generation is part of its core functions.
” At the pilot stage of the system in PTML, at the end of three months of trial, 16, 000 entries were captured with over N120 billion revenue collected.
” But the end game is not revenue but we are concerned with resolving all the issues surrounding declaration and ensuring trade facilitation.
” We want to ensure that our system is robust enough to cope with all the issues raised by our stakeholders.
“Once we do all that, revenue will follow” the CGC declared with conviction.
Main One fiber that will drive the connectivity of B’Odogwu
MainOne is a West African digital infrastructure company that provides connectivity and data center services.
It was founded in 2008 by Funke Opeke.
It was  West Africa’s first privately owned undersea cable.
In 2015, it built Nigeria’s largest Tier III data center
It was later acquired by Equinix, a US-based digital infrastructure company, in 2022
It’s services include Submarine cable systems, IP NGN network, Regional and metro terrestrial fiber optic networks, Data center services, and Cloud services.
Main One has been instrumental in driving digital inclusion and supporting the continent’s tech industry .
MainOne strives to provide a conducive learning environment to schools in host communities
MainOne has a presence in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Customs

How NPA’ s ETO call- up system hampers seamless export processes at Lilypond Terminal — Customs

Funso OLOJO 
The Customs Area Controller of the Lilypond Export Command, Comptroller Ajibola Odusanya, has attributed the persistent delay in export cargo movement at the command to logistics issues associated with the Nigerian Port Authority’s Eto call-up system, rather than any bottlenecks from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Eto call- up system is a structured movement of container- laden trucks into the terminals meant to decongest Port access road and facilitate quick goods clearance at the port.
It was developed by the NPA and driven by a private company.
However, Comptroller Odusanya, speaking at a Roundtable with members of Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN),emphasized that while the command has streamlined the export process,  lack of available slots for trucks to enter the ports remains a major challenge.
 He noted that despite the command’s efforts, numerous containers remain stranded at Lilypond due to the inability of trucks to secure clearance under the Eto system.
He explained that prior to the implementation of a centralized export processing system, multiple customs units across Apapa, Tin Can, PTML, and Lekki ports handled export documentation.
However, in July 2024, the government directed the full centralization of all export processes under the Lilypond Export Command.
This move, driven by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and backed by agencies such as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was aimed at streamlining operations and reducing multiple checkpoints.
Odusanya revealed that between January and December 2024, the command processed exports valued at approximately $1.9 billion, a figure that could have been higher if the consolidation had occurred earlier in the year.
He added that in February 2025 alone, the command facilitated exports worth $225.1 million.
He attributed these successes to inter-agency collaboration, with Customs working alongside the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and quarantine services, among others.
Despite the improved export facilitation, Odusanya acknowledged that challenges persist, particularly with the Eto call-up system, which has created logistical constraints.
 He explained that export containers often get delayed at Lilypond not due to customs processes but because of congestion at the ports, caused by import containers awaiting clearance.
He pointed out that while Apapa remains the busiest port for exports, the congestion problem is less severe at Tin Can due to the presence of an export processing terminal.
On the issue of the Nigerian Export Proceeds (NXP) form, Odusanya stated that the command has ensured compliance with all regulatory requirements.
 He, however, acknowledged exporters’ concerns about the process and assured that Customs is working to facilitate seamless trade while ensuring adherence to financial regulations.
He urged maritime stakeholders, including the media, to continue sensitizing exporters on the ease of processing export goods through Lilypond, emphasizing that the command operates transparently and does not condone extortion.
He reiterated that officers at the entry points are strictly there to verify processed cargo and not to serve as an additional checkpoint.
Odusanya concluded by reaffirming the commitment of the Lilypond Export Command to supporting Nigeria’s growing export sector, ensuring efficiency in cargo movement, and addressing any emerging challenges in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Continue Reading

Customs

Court orders forfeiture of huge foreign currencies intercepted by Customs at Aminu Kano Airport

Funso OLOJO
The Court has ordered the forfeiture of a total sum of $1,154,900 (One Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred US Dollars) and SR135,900 (One Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred Saudi Riyals) which the officers of the Nigeria customs service intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
The seizure was made recently during a routine baggage check on an inbound passenger, Hauwa Ibrahim Abdullahi, who arrived on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia.
During the physical examination of the passenger’s luggage conducted by
NCS Officers, the undeclared currency was discovered concealed within palm-date fruit packs locally referred to as Dabino.
This interception aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
In line with established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign
currency have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and necessary legal action.
 Subsequently, the court convicted the defendant as charged and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the Federal Government in line with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.
The Service reiterates that all travelers must comply with Nigeria’s financial
regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when traveling in or out of the country.
The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995, provide clear guidelines on currency declaration.
Non-compliance with these regulations constitutes a violation of Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties.

 The Service, therefore, urges the public to adhere strictly to these requirements to avoid legal consequences.

Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale
Adeniyi, the NCS remains resolute in its enforcement efforts to combat smuggling, illicit financial transactions, and other trans-border crimes.

 This latest seizure highlights the Service’s unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s economic interests and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.

The NCS will continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies and
stakeholders to strengthen border security, enhance compliance with financial laws, and safeguard Nigeria’s economy.

Travelers and stakeholders in the financial sector are advised to remain vigilant and always adhere to lawful financial practices.
Continue Reading

Customs

Lilypond export processing terminal processes $1.9billion value of export goods in 2024.

Funso OLOJO
The collapse of all the export terminals in the Lagos Ports into a consolidated export terminal at the Lilypond Port has boosted export of goods in the country as the terminal processed the sum of $1.9b in 2024.
Making this revelation on Thursday, March 13th, 2025 while interacting  with the members of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), the
Customs Area Controller (CAC), Lilypond Export Command, Ajibola Odusanya, declared that processing of exports at the dedicated Lilypond Port has improved significantly, reducing processing time to a few hours.
It would be recalled that the Lilypond export processing terminal came into existence in 2024 from the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) between the Nigeria customs service and the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA).
However, Comptroller Odusanya lamented that transferring the export containers to Apapa Port has become a challenge recently, as priority is placed on exiting import containers out of the port.
He bemoaned that accessing the Export Processing Terminal (EPT) especially in Apapa Port is delayed due to traffic gridlock on the internal port access road.
However, Comptroller Odusanya assured that the the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and APM Terminals are working to improve on the port internal traffic.
“The NPA has contributed significantly to export facilitation by creating the Electronic Call-up System (ETO) and EPTs at the ports, but the internal port access roads would need more attention to clear up for seamless movement of export containers into the ports for outward shipping,” Comptroller Odusanya said.
In 2022, the Nigeria Customs Service and the NPA reached an agreement to make the Lilypond Port an export processing port as part of the country’s deliberate plans to improve exportation of non-oil products.
The Lilypond Port Controller explained that due to the presence of all the relevant agencies in the export port, processing of export goods have become very fast and seamless, leading to processing of about $2 billion worth of exports from the port between July and December 2024.
He said: “Since after the MoU between Customs and NPA to streamline export to Lilypond Command in July 2024 and the command became the only command processing sea bound export, we processed about $2 billion in that period Between and December, 2024.
“In February, 2025, we processed $225 million. This achievement is made possible by collaboration with other government agencies and port stakeholders.
“We now have the DSS, NDLEA, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the quarantine service dedicated to export at Lilypond Port.
“Now, with synergy with these sister agencies, export goods treated at Lilypond port are not stopped by any other agency on its way to Apapa or Tincan port.
“Such export will only be checked by Lilypond Customs officers at the port gate and not necessarily to open the container, except there is a security alert.”
He noted that the NPA and the terminal operators would not allow the ugly port access road situation in Apapa in the past to return.
“If you go to Lilypond now, you will see many containers there, but the problem is not with processing of the exports in Lilypond, but the logistics aspect of moving the containers to the ports.
“Sometimes, even when you have obtained your ETO, you won’t be able to access the port.
“You see the trucks lined up on the road with export containers on them.  We have to work on this so that we don’t return to what it was before.
“We have to keep working hard to maintain the sanity on the port road,” Comptroller Odusanya emphasised.
Continue Reading

Trending