TAMING CONTRABAND TRAFFICKING AT THE NATION’S SEAPORTS REMAINS ONE OF CG’S SUCCESS STORIES:
TIN CAN ISLAND COMMAND AS A CASE STUDY
It bears repeating and for good reasons that whereas one of the key agenda of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s administration is the promotion of border security and the national economy, time and chance has shown the results to be greatly satisfying.
Economic and security mapping of a nation does not only indicate its vision and desire to attain progress and growth, but in addition, encapsulates its dream of standing firm and tall among the comity of nations, not only for its capacity to continually galvanise its citizens on the path of greatness; but also to serve out proudly during stock taking.
With the screws tightened to reduce both loopholes and leakages inherent in the system hitherto, through more robust surveillance and monitoring, major customs seaports including the Tin-Can Island Port in the past couple of years have recorded gradual but sustained decline in the landing of questionable and prohibited imports.
Interestingly, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka inherited a significant system check based on a prior overhaul from his predecessor, ACG Dera Nnadi mni, against which framework, a loosening of the old order has reached heartwarming level; where increasing stakeholder’s compliance has since set in systematically and countermanding the old order for a new, improved integrity in trading.
And true to his pledge to sustain the system he was inheriting, Onyeka has not only maintained the traction but have recorded a robust improvement, a development that is believed to have consistently led to the rising reduction in the importation of offensive items, including contraband.
Analysts posit that a reduction in the trafficking of contraband goods is a direct reflection of improvements in trade compliance; which is a defining factor in the overall human efficiencies required to drive both port trade and the national economy.
In the top five list of contraband items hitherto trafficked through the port are controlled medications of therapeutic and nerve stimulating products-tramadol and cough syrup with codeine, cannabis sativa and its related substances such as loud and arizona, heroin and similar addictive ingredients.
Aside drugs, arms and ammunition, illicit military wares and gadgets, high profile drinks and supermarket items, cigarettes, unapproved explosive items, etc. With a ratio of five-ten improvement in safety adjustment comparison between the challenging period and the present, pledges and benchmarks are meeting expectations and hitting the goal posts.
As part of the border security network, the Tin-Can Island port efficient administration is part of the success story of the CGC; in the aftermath of achieving a critical watershed relating to a new, improved culture in the international safe framework for global market and trade. For enhanced efficiencies, Onyeka has also proved a worthy successor as he provides guardianship over two key trade tools for operation and evaluation; the Advance Ruling System and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme.
While the former recently marked its first year anniversary, the latter has created a new trade ecosystem where self assessment by compliant stakeholders have catalyzed a new regime of fast track cargo clearance benchmarked on post clearance audit.
Speaking penultimate week at an event that marked the first year of Advance Ruling programme, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described trade facilitation as central to the service’s contribution to national development and global sustainability efforts.
The CGC who was represented at the event by the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of the Tariff and Trade, DCG Caroline Niagwan, said: “With the increasing volume of global trade, it has become imperative for Customs administrations to adopt mechanisms that support the seamless flow of legitimate trade. Such mechanisms are essential not only for sustaining international commerce but also for enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to benefit from cross-border trade.”
Explaining the benefits of the AEO, Adeniyi said: “This partnership is built on mutual trust between Customs authorities and business entities, offering reciprocal benefits through official recognition of reliable business partners. Maintaining trusted operator status requires continuous investment in compliance and security measures.”
The CGC noted that the pilot phase, which began on 15 April 2024, had been highly successful; noting that the six pilot AEO companies demonstrated remarkable growth, with their collective trade value soaring from NGN 185.8 billion in 2023 to NGN 563.8 billion in 2024.
Flagging the programme off nationwide, Adeniyi said: “As we fully implement the AEO programme today, our dedication to efficiency, security, and prosperity remains unwavering. The early success of our pilot phase has shown that we can achieve—and surpass—our targets, setting new benchmarks for trade facilitation in Africa.”
The AEO portal which was opened to the general public that is, for eligible importers, exporters, terminal operators, logistics companies, customs brokers, and freight forwarders on February 17, 2025 has reportedly demonstrated high level compliance.
Recall that both programmes, Advance Ruling System and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme had their trial tests domiciled in Tin-Can Island Port under the very vivacious, erudite and dependable former area controller, Comptroller Dera Nnadi; through whose capable hands, Comptroller Onyeka took over and has kept at the throttle with equal finesse; focused and forward looking.
Appointed in December 2024, Onyeka came prepared and as providence will have it, like his predecessor, he has remained a keen gatekeeper, a motivating and diligent administrator of men and resources, regarded as hardboiled and unfazed in times of tough decision making.
Adopting the CGC’s step-by-step strategy, Onyeka pulled off by deploying engagement and partnership, as a key take off approach. Thus he started by engaging with critical stakeholders one after the other, as he carved out convenient time for the various engagements, while keeping a full gaze on the administration of the port operations.
For every port trade stakeholders he engaged, he preached honest declaration and trade compliance, which according to him aids or retard quick turnaround time, and also affects stakeholders’ civic responsibility to national values and economic growth. Onyeka says process integrity discourages criminal trading tendencies, reduces operational time, and promotes professionalism between officers and the trading public.
He has engaged various freight forwarding groups among which is the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF). He has also built bridges of friendship and collaboration to various government sister agencies including Maritime Police Command, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Badagry, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Navy Beechcroft Ship, etc.
The thrust of his message during the various meetings with sister government agencies was the same; that to achieve a safe and prosperous nation, all security agencies in the country must partner and synergize in order to prioritize national security. In all of the meetings, his visitors are especially fascinated by his unassuming airs open mindedness to facilitate trade and promote national growth.
He promised to continue to engage stakeholders as at when necessary, noting this is a crucial part of ensuring the success of these initiatives. Through constant collaboration and feedback, we aim to address concerns, foster a better understanding of the processes, and ultimately ensure smooth implementation of these policies.”
While the command under his watch generated a total of N116, 412,735,766.23 in January 2025 which represents 24.06% over and above the figure of N88, 430,126,122.76 recorded within the corresponding period of 2024, he expressed optimism that given the level of consolidation on the strategies he inherited and at the new impetus, the commands performance cannot but be better and better; including its revenue projections for the year 2025.
Recently, Onyeka handed seized consignment of imported illicit drug worth over N8 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He explained that the successful interception of the offensive items was the outcome of collaboration and intelligence sharing between the customs and men of the anti-narcotic agency. Comptroller Onyeka disclosed that the two units of 20FT containers which were intercepted in different batches were falsely declared as used cars and used auto spare parts, imported from Canada.
His first half year in office has been as exciting as it is eventful. Giving the breakdown of the two 20ft seized containers he explained that the container with registration number TCNU 194586/1 was intercepted on February 27, 2025 and found to contain 128 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing 63.75 kilograms with an estimated street value of N414.37 million
The second container with registration number MSMU 838666/3 was intercepted on the 12 of December, 2024 and was found to contain 97 packets of Crystals Methamphetamine, weighing a total of 78.3 kilograms with an estimated street value of N2 billion and 1,735 packets of Cannabis Indica with a total weight of 867.5 kilograms and an estimated street value of N5.63 billion, which brought the total street value of the seized drugs to N8.05 billion.