The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced plans to adopt Pidgin English as the official language for its indigenous Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known on Monday in Lagos during a stakeholder town hall meeting themed “Enhancing Trade Compliance and System Optimisation through Stakeholders’ Engagement.” Adeniyi said the use of Pidgin English would make the platform more relatable and accessible, particularly to grassroots stakeholders.
The B’Odogwu platform, developed in partnership with the Trade Modernisation Project, is designed to improve customs operations using indigenous ICT solutions. Emphasising the need to make the system truly Nigerian, Adeniyi drew a parallel with Pidgin commentary during football matches, saying, “If B’Odogwu is indigenous, why don’t we also do this in Pidgin English? People will enjoy it more and understand it better.” He added that the service would adopt a deliberate strategy to communicate all platform features in a way that fosters broader understanding and compliance across all user levels.
Adeniyi also spoke on Nigeria’s rising global customs profile, referencing his new role as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO). He noted that the position not only brings visibility but also places a greater responsibility on Nigeria to lead with global best practices. “We must foster partnerships that deliver measurable results and create space for regular feedback to improve our systems,” he said. The move toward adopting Pidgin English, he added, aligns with this inclusive and participatory vision for customs operations.