ACG ONYEKA REELS OUT HIS STEWARDSHIP AT TIN CAN ISLAND COMMAND; AS COMPT ANANI WARNS AGAINST ACTS OF CORRUPTION & MISCONDUCT

ACG ONYEKA REELS OUT HIS STEWARDSHIP AT TIN CAN ISLAND COMMAND; AS COMPT ANANI WARNS AGAINST ACTS OF CORRUPTION & MISCONDUCT

It is with deep gratitude to Almighty God and a profound sense of fulfillment that I come before you today to formally hand over the leadership of Tincan Island Port Command following my elevation to the prestigious rank of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs.

This moment is both emotional and historic for me. Serving as the Customs Area Controller of this great Command has been one of the greatest honours of my career in the Nigeria Customs Service. The journey has been challenging, rewarding, and highly impactful, made possible by the unwavering support of officers, stakeholders, and the leadership of the Service.

Permit me to reflect briefly on some of the milestones we collectively achieved during my stewardship at Tincan Island Port Command.

Through the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of officers and men of this Command, we were able to generate a total Revenue of N1,609,874,328,972.55 for the 2025 fiscal year, surpassing its assigned target of N1,524,669,999,478.52. In the same vein, the Command has collected a total Revenue of N401,011,998, 443.71 for the first quarter of the 2026 fiscal year. This achievement was not accidental; it was the product of discipline, intelligence-driven operations, improved compliance strategies, robust stakeholder engagement, and the deployment of modern trade facilitation mechanisms aimed at balancing enforcement with legitimate trade.

In the area of anti-smuggling and enforcement, the Command recorded significant breakthroughs, particularly in the interception and seizure of illicit drugs and other prohibited items with an estimated street value exceeding Thirty-Five Billion Naira. These seizures underscore our collective resolve to protect the nation from criminal networks and to safeguard the health, security, and future of our society. Our efforts reinforced the role of the Nigeria Customs Service as a critical national security agency committed to combating transnational organized crime.

Recognizing that sustainable success in port operations requires collaboration, we also prioritized extensive stakeholders’ engagement throughout my tenure. We maintained open channels of communication and strengthened partnerships with freight forwarders, terminal operators, shipping companies, importers, exporters, government agencies, and the entire trading community. These engagements significantly improved mutual understanding, operational efficiency, dispute resolution mechanisms, and overall compliance levels within the port environment.

Furthermore, we invested heavily in human capital development. The Command organized and facilitated several capacity-building programmes, workshops, training sessions, and professional development initiatives aimed at improving the competence, efficiency, and morale of officers and men. I firmly believe that the strength of any institution lies in the quality and preparedness of its personnel, and I am proud of the strides we made in this regard.

I must also acknowledge our support for the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), who’s humanitarian and family-oriented programmes continue to positively impact the welfare of officers’ families and the larger community. We recognized the importance of family support systems in building a motivated and productive workforce, and we were pleased to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of COWA initiatives during my tenure.

At this juncture, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs and Chairman of the World Customs Organization Council, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD psc (+), for his visionary leadership, confidence in my abilities, and unwavering support throughout my tenure. His transformational leadership philosophy has continued to reposition the Nigeria Customs Service for greater efficiency, professionalism, transparency, and national relevance. I remain profoundly grateful for the opportunity given to me to serve in this strategic Command.

To the management team of Tincan Island Port Command, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for your loyalty, professionalism, wise counsel, and tireless contributions. Your cooperation made governance easier and enabled us to achieve our collective goals. Every success recorded during this period was the product of teamwork and shared commitment.

To the officers and men of this Command, words alone cannot adequately express my gratitude. Your discipline, resilience, sacrifices, and tremendous support throughout my tenure remain deeply appreciated. Together, we faced operational challenges with courage and determination, and together, we built a Command that continued to stand tall within the Nigeria Customs Service.

Today, as I hand over the mantle of leadership to Comptroller Joe Anani, I do so with absolute confidence in his competence, experience, and leadership capacity. I respectfully appeal to all stakeholders, officers, partner agencies, and members of the trading community to extend to him the same cooperation, support, and goodwill accorded to me during my tenure. Continuity, unity, and collective support are essential for sustaining and surpassing the achievements already recorded by this Command.

As I proceed to my new responsibilities as an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, I wish to assure everyone that I shall always remain available for consultation, guidance, and support whenever the need arises. Tincan Island Port Command will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will continue to take pride in its progress and accomplishments.

In conclusion, I give glory to Almighty God for granting us the strength, wisdom, and grace to serve successfully. I thank every stakeholder, every officer, every partner agency, and every well-wisher who contributed in one way or another to the successes we recorded.

While responding, the new Area Controller, Compt Anani Reads Riot Act to Customs Officers, Stakeholders at Tincan Island Command Vows Decisive Action Against Economic Sabotage, Compromise

The newly appointed Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Joe Anani, has warned officers and personnel of the command against acts of corruption, compromise, and misconduct capable of tarnishing the image of the Service and undermining national interests.

Comptroller Anani issued the warning shortly after officially taking over leadership of the command from the immediate past CAC, Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, who was recently promoted and appointed Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG).

He also urged importers, exporters, licensed customs agents, and other stakeholders to comply fully with extant trade regulations by avoiding smuggling, under-declaration of cargo, and underpayment of duties in the interest of trade facilitation and national economic growth.

The new CAC expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, and the management team of the Service for considering him worthy of redeployment from the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) Command to the strategic Tin Can Island Port Command.

Anani commended ACG Onyeka for his achievements in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations during his tenure, pledging to consolidate on the successes already recorded.

“It is with profound gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today as the Area Controller of this prestigious seaport command,” he said.

“I sincerely thank the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for finding me worthy to serve at the Tin Can Island Port Command. I recognise the importance of this command to national revenue generation, trade facilitation, and security, and I accept this responsibility with humility and commitment.

Anani noted that under his leadership, the command would witness improved efficiency in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and the suppression of smuggling activities. According to him, the achievements recorded by ACG Onyeka have repositioned the Tin Can Island Command as a critical gateway for legitimate trade in Nigeria. “I pledge from this day that my focus will be on building a command that is even more efficient, transparent, and result-oriented,” he stated.

Addressing officers and men of the command, Anani said he was familiar with the operational structure and challenges of the command, having spent a significant part of his career there. “I return not as a stranger, but as one of you, committed to working side-by-side with you to uphold the mandate of the Service,” he added.

The CAC charged officers to strictly adhere to extant laws, operational guidelines, and standard procedures in the discharge of their duties, stressing that professionalism, discipline, and intelligence must remain the hallmark of their conduct.

“We will not tolerate compromise, inefficiency, or any act capable of undermining the Service and the nation,” he warned.

He also called for stronger collaboration with other security and government agencies operating within the port environment, noting that national security and trade facilitation require collective responsibility.

“Through mutual respect, timely information sharing, and joint operations, we can better secure our borders and facilitate legitimate trade,” he said.

To stakeholders, the CAC appealed for full compliance in all trade transactions, including prompt and accurate declaration of goods and payment of duties.

He maintained that the command would reward compliance while dealing decisively with any form of infraction. Anani further assured officers, stakeholders, and partners that his administration would operate an open-door policy to encourage constructive engagement.

“Together, we will sustain the progress made at the Tin Can Island Command and continue to position it as a benchmark of excellence within the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.