Abuja, July 11, 2025 — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has provided a detailed update on migrating the Form M process from the legacy NICIS II platform to its innovative B’Odogwu system, assuring stakeholders of a smoother transition and more transparent trade procedures.
According to the Customs spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, the pilot phase for digitalising Form M issuance began in May 2025 across Port & Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML), Tin Can Island, and Apapa commands. During this exercise, 544 Form M entries were processed, 283 registered, 10 validated, 41 submitted, while 120 were returned for correction and 39 sent for approval, demonstrating robust iterative testing and system resilience. The pilot also generated 37 Pre‑Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs), with 7 registered, confirming the platform’s readiness for full adoption.
The NCS emphasised that all commercial banks, under the direction of the CBN, are now fully integrated with the B’Odogwu portal for Form M issuance. This move removes previous bottlenecks where select banks were excluded or malfunctioned, particularly Access Bank, which has since resolved earlier integration issues.
Reiterating its commitment, the NCS under Comptroller‑General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi acknowledged that initial system glitches were expected but solvable. In a visit to Lagos ports, Adeniyi pledged continuous collaboration with banks and stakeholders to refine the system and eliminate bottlenecks.
The new B’Odogwu system, designed to fully replace NICIS II, is part of a broader modernisation initiative to enhance customs efficiency, duty transparency, and trade facilitation. It is built and maintained locally, reinforcing data sovereignty and enforcing compliance through web-based controls that prevent invalid documentation uploads .
The NCS has called on shipping lines, airlines, banks, and traders nationwide to begin transmitting manifests and preparing for full deployment. Stakeholder training sessions and a dedicated help desk are in place to support a seamless shift to the new platform.
