Atoloye decries arbitrary charges by shipping companies, lack of essential equipments by terminal operators
...lauds Adeniyi-led Customs for ease in cargo clearing process.
Segun Oladipupo
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Waltoye Limited, Otunba Joseph Adebowale Atoloye has called on the Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) as the Port Economic Regulator to prevail on shipping lines against arbitrary charges.
He decried the rising cost of cargo clearance from the port owing to the charges by shipping lines in the country.
Otunba Atoloye also advised the federal government through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to engender policies that would actualise 24 hours cargo clearance time from the ports.
He made the call while commending the management of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the digitization process and procedures in cargo clearance from the ports saying it has eased up the clearing process.
Atoloye who spoke to newsmen on Monday in Lagos, commended the Comptroller General of Custom, Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for the innovation saying that the B’ Odogwu has come to stay.
Even though he said B’ Odogwu platform has brought tremendous ease to cargo clearing, the customs broker called on management of the service to further streamline operational activities by merging some departments and units in furtherance to reducing human contact in cargo clearance from the ports.
The B’Odogwu is the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) new, homegrown Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), replacing older systems to modernize trade by integrating all regulatory agencies, simplifying clearance, and boosting efficiency through digital tools like electronic cargo tracking and risk management for faster, transparent operations.
The name combines “B” for Border with the Igbo word “Odogwu,” meaning “great” or “mighty,” symbolizing strength and efficiency in Customs processes.
According to the foremost customs broker, the platform has taken care of some operations which should not require human elements adding that the customs has performed beyond expectations under the current CGC Adewale Adeniyi through revenue drive and trade facilitation.
He added that “Any new innovation introduced usually have teething problems and challenges in the earlier stage but truly we are gradually getting it right this time around. Presently we are moving ahead with the B’ Odogwu.
Aside the B Odogwu, Atoloye maintained that customs technological advancement like the Authorized Economic Operator, (AEO) which is a voluntary certification for trusted businesses (importers, exporters, brokers, etc.) in the supply chain that meet high standards of security and compliance, enabling them to receive expedited Customs clearance, simplified procedures, and other trade facilitation benefits in line with WCO guidelines, is another game changer in the Customs clearing process.
He advised the government to put in place policies that would make the terminal operators to acquire cargo handling equipments.
He lamented that some concessionaires lack the right infrastructure to expedite goods movement from the ports.
