Customs debunks ‘Form M’ migration fee

The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS) has described as false and misleading, claims that importers are required to pay a fee for migrating their Form M from the Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS II) to the new B’Odogwu Trade Management System.

In a press statement released by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, Friday, the NCS stated that no fees have been introduced, approved, or authorized for the migration process.

The NCS clarified that the ongoing migration is a technical and administrative task designed to ensure seamless continuity of trade documentation following the phased deployment of the B’Odogwu system across all commands.

“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.

“Upon successful migration, traders are expected to log into their dashboard on
B’Odogwu and: – Locate the already migrated “registered” Form M,
Click on it to view the full details
– Use the “Create PAAR” button that will appear to proceed with PAAR
processing, ” the statement explained.

The NCS urged all stakeholders to disregard any individual or group demanding payment under the guise of facilitating Form M migration.

Such practices, the statement emphasized, are illegal and undermine the Service’s commitment to transparency and trade facilitation.

Affected persons are advised to report any such misconduct through official NCS channels.

The NCS, under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a user-friendly, transparent, and efficient trade environment, powered by technology and integrity.

The Service expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the trading public and assured all stakeholders of continuous support throughout the transition.