Nigeria Customs Deepens Partnership with Access Bank to Enhance Financial Integration
Nigeria Customs Deepens Partnership with Access Bank to Enhance Financial Integration
Abuja, April 14, 2025 – In a decisive move to consolidate the gains of its newly deployed Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), codenamed B’odogwu, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified strategic engagement with stakeholders—beginning with a high-level meeting with officials of Access Bank.
The virtual meeting, held on Monday, April 14, 2025, aimed to align operational frameworks and foster deeper collaboration between the NCS and the financial sector, with a focus on seamless payment integration, improved data exchange, and real-time processing of trade-related transactions through the B’odogwu platform.
Leading the Customs delegation was the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeola, alongside Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, National Public Relations Officer, and Assistant Comptroller Bukola Omoniyi from the ICT/Modernisation Department.
A New Era in Customs Administration
DCG Adeola hailed the deployment of B’odogwu as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward digital customs administration. She described the platform as an indigenous innovation that has unified Customs procedures, automated declaration processes, and enabled real-time monitoring of trade transactions.
“This platform is a turning point for Customs operations,” Adeola said. “Our priority now is to ensure full integration with financial institutions like Access Bank to realize B’odogwu’s full potential in driving automation, transparency, and trade efficiency.”
She emphasized that complete stakeholder integration is critical in the post-deployment consolidation phase, as Customs moves toward a fully digital and globally compliant trade ecosystem.
Access Bank Backs Customs Vision
Representing Access Bank, Olatunbosun Oladunke, Head of Global Trade, expressed strong support for the Customs modernization agenda, describing B’odogwu as “a revolutionary leap” in trade facilitation.
“Access Bank is fully aligned with this vision. We are committed to ensuring compatibility in trade finance, payment automation, and overall integration,” Oladunke affirmed.
Also speaking, Olakunle Aderinokun, Head of Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings/Access Bank, emphasized the role of communication and stakeholder engagement in driving adoption and system efficiency.
“Public buy-in is key to the success of any major reform. We will work closely with the NCS to raise awareness about B’odogwu and educate stakeholders about the immense value it brings to Nigeria’s trade ecosystem,” Aderinokun stated.
Driving a New Vision for Trade
The meeting is part of the NCS’s broader strategy to accelerate the implementation of its trade modernization agenda through technology, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships.
With B’odogwu now operational, the NCS is steadily advancing toward a fully digitized Customs system that supports transparency, revenue generation, and Nigeria’s broader economic growth.
“This is not just about software—it’s about transforming the way we do business in Nigeria,” DCG Adeola concluded. “We are building a system that is efficient, reliable, and globally competitive.”
For more information on the Nigeria Customs Service and the B’odogwu platform, please visit [NCS website link or contact info].
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