Comptroller Frank Onyeka Curtails Illegal Antics of Traders through Bonded Terminals * Annihilates Smuggling through Effective Sensitisation * Laments insecurity at sea which inhibits Barge operations, Lack of Equipment at ports

Comptroller Onyeka Curtails Illegal Antics of Traders through Bonded Terminals

* Annihilates Smuggling through Effective Sensitisation

* Laments insecurity at sea which inhibits Barge operations, Lack of Equipment at ports

Comptroller Frank Okechukwu Onyeka, CAC, TinCan Island Command, NCS

There tend to be a beckoning of a new and rare customs operational dawn at the TinCan Island Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), as the present helmsman, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Frank Okechukwu Onyeka is driving with vagaries speed on measures being adopted to improve the lot of the command.

With obvious facts, the command in recent times has attained an appreciable and unprecedented dimensions in its mandates of revenue generation, anti-smuggling campaign, and trade facilitation achievements.

In a recent meeting with the League of Maritime Editors (LOME) on Tuesday April 15, 2025, when the later paid him a courtesy visit held in the Command’s conference hall, Comptroller Onyeka in a no hold barred interactive session with the veteran maritime media group, unleashed several measures that is currently making the command tick in the pursuit of its desired goals.

According to the CAC, there is now a new wave of never before imagined high level of compliance by traders operating within the command through fallout of vigorous, robust and fruitful interactions and sensitization, undertaken by his leadership.

With constant talks, meeting and rubbing minds between customs and the trading public, on the huge advantage inherent in genuine declaration of consignments, goods, the cooperation level for genuine declaration at the command is now surging like magic, he said.

Under the above measures, which is one of his jokers, Comptroller Onyeka noted that as a vibrant Valuation Officer, he and his management team have been able to garner, generate a wide range of collectable revenue by the deployment of robust descretional mechanism without compromising trade laws, while he as well pointed that under valuation, machine outside, misplaced HS codes and other antics of traders cannot be tolerated under his watch.

As it stands now, the TinCan Island Area Command which was disclosed to have a figure of about N1.524trillion as its revenue collection benchmark for year 2025, is said to have in its first quarter scorecard performed creditably with collection of N347.9 billion already generated.

He however announced a total of N126 billion revenue collection for the month of March 2025, which stands as highest ever since the creation of the command.

Onyeka, who attributed the reason for the high revenue jump to strict compliance level at the command, also noted that, even though the service is more than before determined to facilitate trade and collect maximum collectable revenue, it would be done without choking the business community.

Another very notable achievement of the Onyeka led leadership in the short time he assumed office is the effective coordination of activities of Bonded Terminals under the command which hitherto he said served as conduit pipes for evading duties as most of them performed illegal operations.

He said that the challenges of sharp practices posed by activities of some of the Bonded Terminal operators, have been dismantled with much scrutiny now placed on transires.

This act had before his advent led to the near dearth of operations at the mother port and core terminals of the command, such as B1, TCIT, Josephdam etc due to incessant and unwarranted transfer of consignments from the mother port to external bonded terminals for illegitimate purposes, and in most cases frustrating appropriate duty collection.

The CAC however revealed that at present, the command has successfully curb these nefarious activities of traders as the mother port and terminals are working optimally, more active than ever before.

Now, he said most documents are treated at the mother port, as consignments are no longer allowed to go to other terminals until they are fully utilised.

The very frank CAC further explained that he dare not sign any documents he cannot attest to its authenticity, as he noted that terminal operators cannot serve as a weak link in its operations.

Also, he pointed that the terminal operators are constantly being counseled to upgrade their equipment to be able to carry out modern port operations.

On the Anti-Smuggling activities of the command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka in a proudly bold stance was affirmative when he boasted that with the current sensitization efforts of his leadership which has brought to bear more compliant and truthful traders, it will be difficult for smuggling to thrive under his watch.

The TinCan Customs boss noted that his sensitization efforts have put smuggling through the Tin Can port at zero-level, stressing that, having worked at the seaport for long, he has put into place water-tight measures that have nipped smuggling in the bud.

He was optimistic as he wished no smuggling can happen under his watch, noting it had been drastically reduced. “No smuggling can happen under my watch”, he said.

‘We are very sensitive to trade facilitation, we try to sensitize the business community, encourage them and ensure we generate collectible revenue.

“As valuation officers, we will never under charge and we are not here to choke importers.

“If we don’t apply the decency, it will be difficult to achieve trade facilitation which is one of our core mandates”, the Comptroller said.

Also, the TinCan Area Controller also harped on the issue of multiple alerts, which he said have been dismantled and rested. He said that the command is now coasting home with the best services to importers and the entire port operators, as one alert system is currently being adopted.

Meanwhile, the CAC lamented the challenge posed by insecurity at sea which inhibits the movement of barges from the command at night. He pointed that the menace of attacks, theft and robbery on barges at night periods has unfortunately led to the adjustment in barge operations to terminate by 6.00pm.

This decision as a trained trade facilitation person did not go down well with him, but it is necessary to take to safeguard the trade.

He as well rued the challenge occasion by dearth of equipment by terminal operators, especially as it affects Ports and Cargo Terminal. He said most of them do not have facilities for bulk consignments.

Concluding the interaction, Comptroller Onyeka call for good collaborative partnership with the League of Maritime Editors in order to assist in achieving his mandate given to him by the Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.

Earlier In her own remarks, the President of the League of Maritime Editors, Mrs Remi Itie congratulated the Area Controller for his promotion and appointment to head the second biggest revenue earning command of the service, as she enlisted the support of the League to make him succeed during his tenure at the command.