Report on refusal of foreign airlines not transmitting cargo manifests to Customs at airport is not true – ANLCA

The Chairman of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, MMAC Chapter, Honourable Bola Asiru- Balogun, says the report on the refusal of foreign airlines not transmitting their cargo manifests to the Customs was belated and a misrepresentation of the true position of the cargo operations at the port presently.

Commending the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team on their visionary service in keeping with global best practices in cargo clearance, Bola Asiru-Balogun made this position known while reacting to a report on “Refusal of British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airways, others to transmit cargo manifests to Customs disrupts supply chain” published by PortNews.

In a statement by his Senior Media Assistant, Mr. Chukwunenye Obiezu, the ANLCA Chairman said the issue came up at a time the Customs was experiencing teething problems with B’Odogwu but situation has changed as B’Odogwu is working effectively and has made cargo clearance easier, more efficient and with greater integrity in the process.

In the statement, the Chairman said “The attention of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) M/M Airport Cargo Chapter (MMAC) is drawn to a publication on 10th October, 2025 by Port News Nigeria titled, “Refusal of British Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airways, others to transmit cargo manifests to Customs disrupts supply chain” and credited to Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON).

“We will like to state the news is belated and a misrepresentation of current operations within the ports. Sometime in the distant past, the Nigeria Customs Service upgraded their service with the B’Odogwu clearance system, built to ease cargo clearance, improve integrity and efficiency.

“Like every pilot program, B’Odogwu experienced teething problems in migrating from NICIS II. These problems include all the issues raised in the publication, because management was still learning the B’Odogwu clearance system.

“All the demands; compensation and demurrage waiver were granted at the time to ameliorate the pains of Importers and Clearing Agents.

“B’Odogwu has effectively taken off and has made cargo clearance easier, more efficient and with greater integrity in the process.

“We will like to commend the Nigeria Customs Service ably led by the Comptroller General of Customs, CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on their visionary service to meet the peculiar needs of our system in keeping with global best practices in cargo clearance.”