By Paul Williams
National President of the Association of Nigeria License Customs Agent (ANLCA), Chief Emenike Nwokeoji, has inaugurated the association’s Presidential Monitoring Task Force (PMTF) for the Eastern Zone, while urging licensed Customs agents in the zone to comply with the B’Odogwu digital system, recently introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The committee is led by immediately past chairman of Onne Port Chapter, Chief Micheal Ebeatu.
Nwokeoji’s call for compliance with B’Odogwu is coming against the backdrop of concerns in the Eastern ports – comprising Calabar, Delta, Onne and Rivers – over the likely impact of the system on their operations.
An indigenous digital customs platform, B’Odogwu was launched by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in 2025 to modernize and streamline trade operations across Nigerian ports.
The ANLCA president, who was speaking at the inauguration of the Presidential Monitoring Task Force (PMTF) in Port Harcourt on Thursday, described B’Odogwu as a system “that is here to stay.”
He further described the system as efficient and transparent, and stressed the expectation that it would promote the ease of doing business at the ports, especially for Customs agents.
Nwokeoji, who was accompanied by his vice, Prince Segun Odutan, to inaugurate the association’s Presidential Monitoring Task Force (PMTF) for the Eastern Zone, informed the Mike Ebeatu-led committee that their task is to bridge operational gaps in the zone, and not take over the functions of chapter executives.
He charge the PMTF members to demonstrate quality leadership, uphold the integrity of the association in the discharge of their duty.
Nwokeoji said, “This is the first phase of the inauguration of the presidential national committee members of our great association. The second phase will come later, we are here for restoration, to restore the image of our association, the prestige, the respect and position of the association.
“We decided to set up few committee to take care of certain challenges. Mind you the committees are not here to take the position of the elected excos. The chairmen are in charge of the chapters of our association everywhere. They are elected and the constitution gives them the authority, the powers to supervise our affairs in those chapters,” he said.
The ANLCA President further warned the new committee members that, “We selected this committee as a support team, to work and cover areas where necessary. I appeal to the committee to respect the position of chapter executives.”
He urged chapter members to receive the committee members with open hands, adding that “the committees are not here to compete with the executive but to compliment what you are doing to achieve a common goal and common purpose as there are many areas that are begging for attention and no body is touching such areas.”
Chairman of the presidential committee, Chief Micheal Ebeatu, who is the immediate past Chairman of Onne Port Chapter of the association, thanked the National president and his vice, for the confidence reposed in the committee members.
He pledged that he and his team “will do our best, work assiduously to improve and compliment the efforts of the chapter chairmen. We want to assure you that we will not disappoint you. Also we need your support to succeed,” he said.
Chairman of Onne Port Chapter, Chief Ifeanyi Isikaku, described B’Odogwu as an improved system, better than its predecessor, NCIS II, and urged Customs agents to take full advantage of it.
