The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has clarified that importers and agents are not required to pay for the migration of their Form M from the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) II platform to the B’Odogwu Trade Management System.
In a statement issued by the NCS‘s National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, on Friday, the Service debunked contrary claims, describing them as “false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.”
“For clarity, the ongoing migration process is a technical and administrative task designed and implemented by NCS to ensure seamless continuity of trade documentation following the phased deployment of the B’Odogwu system across Customs Area Commands. It is worth noting that at no point has the NCS introduced, approved, or authorised any fee for migrating Form M from NICIS II to B’Odogwu.
“Importers and agents whose Bills of Lading (BoL) or manifests have already been transmitted to B’Odogwu but whose Form M was originally registered on NICIS II are required to submit a soft copy of their existing Form M to the Technical Supervisor (TS) in their Command of operation. This submission will enable the Service to carry out the necessary migration at no cost to the trader,” the statement noted.
AC Maiwada explained that after successful migration, traders are expected to log into their dashboard on B’Odogwu, locate the already migrated “registered” Form M, click on it to view the full details, and use the “Create PAAR” button that will appear to proceed with PAAR processing.
He urged all stakeholders to disregard any person or group demanding payment under the guise of facilitating Form M migration, stressing that such practices are not only illegal, but also undermine the Service’s commitment to transparency and trade facilitation.
The spokesperson advised affected persons to report such misconduct through official NCS channels.
He reiterated the Service‘s commitment to delivering a user-friendly, transparent, and efficient trade environment powered by technology and integrity, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team.
The statement added: “We appreciate the cooperation of the trading public and assure all stakeholders of our continuous support throughout this transition.”
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