The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is ramping up collaboration with Access Bank to enhance the integration of its newly-deployed Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’odogwu, across the country.
Kikelomo Adeola, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, says the Customs technology initiative heralds a new era in trade facilitation and national revenue collection.
“The deployment of B’odogwu marks a new era in Customs administration,” Adeola tells Access Bank officials during a virtual engagement held Monday to deepen private sector partnerships supporting the platform. “Our next priority is to strengthen partnerships with financial institutions like Access Bank to fully unlock the platform’s potential for automation, transparency, and trade efficiency.”
The homegrown UCMS platform, jointly developed by the Nigeria Customs Service and the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), replaces the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) and the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). It now serves as the digital backbone for Customs operations, consolidating key functions including goods declarations, duty payments, and cargo tracking.
NCS says in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that the virtual session focused on building synergy between the Customs and banking sectors to streamline payment systems, boost data exchange, and enable real-time processing of trade transactions through B’odogwu.
The homegrown UCMS platform, jointly developed by the Nigeria Customs Service and the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP), replaces the legacy Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) and the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA). It now serves as the digital backbone for Customs operations, consolidating key functions including goods declarations, duty payments, and cargo tracking.
“To achieve optimal functionality, all players within the trade value chain must be fully integrated. This engagement with Access Bank is not just timely—it is strategic,” Adeola says.
The Customs ICT Modernisation Office underscores that deepening integration with financial institutions remains central to maximising the gains of B’odogwu, a platform expected to drive Customs transformation and support Nigeria’s wider digital economy goals.
“To achieve optimal functionality, all players within the trade value chain must be fully integrated. This engagement with Access Bank is not just timely—it is strategic,” Adeola says.
Olatunbosun Oladunke, Head of Global Trade at Access Bank, in his response, says the bank is ready to support full compatibility with the new digital system. “The B’odogwu platform represents a major leap in digital trade processing. Access Bank is fully aligned with the NCS vision and is committed to ensuring system compatibility—particularly in trade finance and payment automation.”
Access Bank’s parent company, Access Holdings, also pledged support for public awareness campaigns to encourage stakeholder adoption of the new platform.
“Public buy-in is critical to the success of any reform. We will collaborate with the Service to drive awareness of B’odogwu and educate stakeholders on the value it brings to the trading ecosystem,” Olakunle Aderinokun, Head of Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings/Access Bank says.
The NCS says the engagement is part of a broader post-deployment strategy to ensure B’odogwu becomes the single-window platform for trade and revenue processing in Nigeria. The platform is expected to help reduce corruption, cut delays at ports, and improve Nigeria’s global trade performance.
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