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Licensed freight agents under the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) have accused some foreign airlines of causing delays in cargo clearance at Nigerian airports by failing to transmit cargo manifests to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) through its B’Odogwu Platform.
APFFLON President, Frank Ogunojemite, raised the concern in a statement on Friday, saying the problem was especially rampant at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He said the delay in submitting cargo manifests had crippled smooth clearance operations, causing excessive demurrage, storage costs, and frustration for freight forwarders, importers, and logistics operators.
Ogunojemite said, “Despite repeated appeals and engagements with relevant authorities, there has been no clear resolution. The failure to upload manifests on the B’Odogwu digital platform has made it impossible for customs officers to assess or clear cargo efficiently, leaving consignments stranded and importers helpless.”
The B’Odogwu Platform is part of ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service to modernise and reform the country’s import and export systems. The centralised digital platform was introduced to streamline cargo manifest transmission and improve clearance efficiency across ports and airports.
The system serves as a single-window interface that allows airlines, cargo handlers, and logistics operators to electronically transmit cargo manifests to Customs before consignments arrive in Nigeria. This early submission enables quicker processing and reduces waiting time on arrival.
The Customs Service hopes the digital platform will reduce processing delays, demurrage costs, and corruption, while improving transparency and compliance within the logistics chain.
Although the system has been rolled out at key airports such as the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, compliance has been inconsistent.
Some foreign airlines have reportedly struggled to integrate their information systems with the B’Odogwu interface, while others allegedly delay or fail to submit manifest data entirely. This, according to freight agents, has led to long queues, unprocessed cargo backlogs, and financial losses for importers and logistics operators.
Ogunojemite said many goods remain uncleared because Customs officers cannot access the required manifest data. He added that importers were forced to pay heavy demurrage and warehouse fees for delays not caused by them.
“Delays have disrupted supply chains, leading to business losses, customer dissatisfaction, and reputational damage. Cargo terminals at Abuja airport are now overcrowded with unprocessed shipments,” Ogunojemite lamented.
He called for urgent action from the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to compel full compliance by all airlines.
The APFFLON president also suggested imposing sanctions or temporarily suspending cargo operations for airlines that continue to ignore the rule.
He further recommended a stakeholders’ meeting involving Customs, airlines, cargo handlers, and freight forwarders to find practical solutions to technical challenges hindering smooth manifest transmission. Ogunojemite also proposed compensation or demurrage waivers for importers affected by airline negligence.
“APFFLON remains committed to promoting transparency, professionalism, and efficiency in the freight and logistics industry. The suffering of Nigerian importers and freight agents at Abuja Airport must not continue. No single entity should be allowed to sabotage the progress achieved in Customs automation and ease of doing business,” he added.
Dr. Segun Musa, Deputy Vice President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), who oversees cargo airport operations nationwide, confirmed that some airlines were still struggling to connect to the B’Odogwu platform.
According to Musa, the problem mainly originates from the airlines’ headquarters, not their Nigerian offices.
“The main issue is that the software systems used by airlines and their handlers are not yet properly linking with the B’Odogwu platform. I have advised most of them to upgrade their systems. It’s a technical issue from their headquarters that must be resolved,” Musa explained.
Musa, who also serves as Group Managing Director of Wild Scope Group, noted that the situation was gradually improving.
“It’s not that anyone is trying to frustrate the process. The platform has come to stay, and the challenges are easing gradually. We’re still reviewing performance, but with time, all stakeholders will fully connect,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, said there had been no problem with the system from their side.
“As far as we are concerned, the transmission of manifests is smooth and the airlines are compliant,” Maiwada stated.
Efforts to get a response from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria were unsuccessful, as its spokesperson, Henry Agbebire, did not respond to calls or text messages.
