The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced plans to adopt Pidgin English as the official language of its indigenous Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu. This strategic shift marks a major step in the agency’s commitment to promoting inclusion, accessibility, and cultural relevance in customs operations across the country.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, revealed the development during a stakeholder town hall meeting held in Lagos on Monday, themed ‘Enhancing Trade Compliance and System Optimisation Through Stakeholders’ Engagement.’
According to Adeniyi, the decision to incorporate Pidgin into the B’Odogwu platform stems from a broader strategy to make customs processes more relatable and easily understood, especially by grassroots traders, importers, clearing agents, and others engaged in cross-border commerce.
“If B’Odogwu is truly indigenous, why not use a language that resonates with the people?” Adeniyi asked rhetorically. “Imagine listening to customs clearance instructions the same way people enjoy football commentary in Pidgin—it’s sweet, it’s relatable, and it connects.”
First unveiled in October 2024 in collaboration with the Trade Modernisation Project, B’Odogwu is an indigenous Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform developed to transform customs procedures, improve clearance speed, and enhance transparency. The system is part of a broader customs automation and trade facilitation initiative that aligns with global customs standards.
The platform was designed as a more culturally rooted alternative to imported systems, aiming to incorporate local content, technical adaptability, and now, indigenous language accessibility.
Adeniyi emphasized that many stakeholders, particularly those operating outside formal sectors or with limited literacy in formal English, often find digital customs platforms inaccessible. By translating operational instructions and user guides into Nigerian Pidgin, the Service hopes to bridge the knowledge gap and reduce compliance barriers.
“We must deliberately bring this platform to the people,” Adeniyi noted. “The more people at the grassroots who understand how it works, the better it is for trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national development.”
He likened the initiative to Supersports’ Pidgin English commentary for football matches, which he described as entertaining and widely appreciated by Nigerian audiences. “Sometimes, people enjoy the commentary more than the match itself,” he added with a smile.
Adeniyi, who now serves as the Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), said the adoption of Pidgin English for B’Odogwu also aligns with global customs expectations around stakeholder feedback, system evaluation, and localization of trade practices.
He stressed that Nigeria’s new leadership role at the WCO places an obligation on the country to lead by example and adopt best practices that deliver measurable results. “We now have to foster partnerships that produce results beneficial to all. B’Odogwu in Pidgin is one such innovative leap,” he noted.
Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism about the new direction. Clearing agents, freight forwarders, and small-scale importers said the use of Pidgin English would demystify many customs procedures that previously seemed too technical or inaccessible.
“It will help reduce clearing errors, boost compliance, and make the platform user-friendly for local traders who don’t speak Queen’s English,” said one freight forwarder in attendance.
While the Service is yet to announce an official rollout date for the Pidgin-English version of B’Odogwu, implementation is expected to begin in phases, with training materials, video guides, and user support transitioning first.
With the introduction of Pidgin English into the B’Odogwu system, the Nigeria Customs Service is not just embracing linguistic diversity but is also deepening its commitment to indigenous solutions and people-centered customs reforms. As Nigeria takes a more visible position on the global trade map, this bold step reinforces the nation’s capacity to innovate and lead, both at home and abroad.