Tin Can Port Customs: Tightening the Noose Without Choking Trade
By Francis Ugwoke
For the Controller, Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, enthroning sanity at the second largest port in the country is imperative as part of the efforts to promote trade facilitation. Oneyka assumed office at the port in December last year. Ever since then he has been working on ensuring that all obstacles to trade and increased revenue generation are put to check. Apparently aware of decades of the antics of some unscrupulous importers and other stakeholders who try to maximize profit while apparently circumventing laid trade down rules, the Controller has embarked on strategies at finding a redress. This is not without ruffling some feathers. The Controller who spoke to members of the League of Maritime Editors during a courtesy visit said his target is to achieve the much desired compliance to trade regulations by importers and their freight forwarders. He believes that trade compliance will lead to increased revenue and reduce smuggling activities.
He strongly believes that he and his management team will enthrone an era of trade compliance without choking trade. Onyeka describes both as parallel to one another, adding that the gulf which separates them cannot be bridged.
Checking Bonded Terminals
As part of the moves to ensure sanity in the system, Onyeka on assuming office has wielded a strong stick on bonded terminals. This is apparently to ensure that the rules of the game are not abused. This is also to ensure proper coordination of the activities of the terminals under his command. The move may not be unconnected with speculations that some of the bonded terminals simply serve as conduit pipe through which revenue to the government is lost. The Command is therefore taking the stern measures to ensure it meets its revenue target of about N1.5trillion for the year. Besides, beyond the revenue generation phenomenon, Onyeka wants to ensure that bonded terminals are not used for illegal operations. The controller said he is determined to address the challenges of sharp practices in bonded terminals. During the meeting with LOME members, he disclosed that some of the sharp practices in the bonded terminals have been dismantled. Part of this, he said, is in placing a lot of scrutiny on transires containers. He added that the measure includes check on incessant and unwarranted transfer of consignments from the mother port to external bonded terminals. Some of the transfers in the past had been suspected to be for illegitimate purposes, a development believed to have impacted negatively on appropriate revenue collection. But the Controller disclosed that so far, the Command has been able to curb some of the nefarious activities of traders, adding that the mother port and terminals are currently working optimally, even more active than before. He revealed that most documents are treated at the mother port with consignments no more allowed to go to other terminals except they are fully utilised.
Among the stern measures in place, the Area Controller said, is that he does not sign any document he is not sure of its authenticity, insisting that terminal operators cannot serve as a weak link in its operations.
He said, ” We take into cognisance national security, trade facilitation and so on. Once your consignment is the same with your declaration after examination is made, your goods get released. Our officers are at different places monitoring. We equally carry out strong sensitization on Customs clearing agents. The implication is that unscrupulous bonded terminal operators and their customs agents are no longer able to swindle the country or have a field day.
“The service is more than before determined to facilitate trade, this will be done without choking the business community as well as ensuring that we do not under-charge on duties.
“Let me say that before l came, TICT was not completely public in quote, but as far as we are concerned we have improved on that and l can tell you for free and this is verifiable, that TICT is more active than ever before. This is because l insisted that the rules of engagement should reflect trade facilitation and utmost governance system that promotes balance and fairness.”
More Noose to anti-smuggling
Apparently aware that over the decades, the Tin Can Island Port has been associated with smuggling activities, the Controller assured that he will do everything to check this trend. Different items, including drugs, illegal arms and other items worth billions of Naira have been seized in the port. Oneyka told LOME that under his watch, no smuggling will be allowed. But while on this stance, he assured that he is determined to promote trade facilitation. 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”.
Eliminating Multiple Alerts
One of the measures Onyeka has introduced which excites importers and freight forwarders is the elimination of the tradition of multiple alerts. The Command has enthroned one- stop -shop operation which eliminates multiple alerts. In the past, multiple alert system was a nightmare to importers and freight forwarders. The scenario was such that as examination of containers is carried out and the items released at some point, the movement could be halted following the incidence of multiple alert. This was frustrating as it meant more rounds of payments and settlements.
Stakeholders engagement
One of the things working for the Command is the stakeholders engagement by the Controller. During stakeholders’ meeting, the Controller strongly preaches against smuggling and other issues of malpractices involving importers and their freight forwarders. He insists on curtailing smuggling and putting it at zero level. And things have continued to improve.
Increased Revenue Generation
For the Tin Can Island Customs Command, the various measures are no doubt producing positive results. This is seen in terms of revenue generation. The Command has set N1.524 trillion 2025 revenue target for the year, and optimistic of achieving this.
The Command collected ₦347.9bn between the months of January and March this year.
The total amount generated for the first quarter of 2025 which is ₦347,935,672,476.00k is 12.6% higher than the ₦304,000,000,000.00k generated in the corresponding period of 2024.
The January, 2025 revenue generation record shows a total of ₦116, 412,735,766.23 which represents 24.06% over and above the figure of ₦88, 430,126,122.76 recorded within the corresponding period of 2024.
The record for February of 2025 also shows that the sum of ₦103,254,292,839.23k was generated which is also 2.90 % over and above the sum of ₦100,253,187,074.72k generated over the corresponding month of February 2024.
The Command generated the sum of ₦128,268,749,635.00k for March 2025 and this is 10.3% higher than the ₦115,100,000,000.00k generated over the corresponding period of 2024.
The message being preached by Comptroller Onyeka is the need for stakeholders to do more honest declarations so that seamless operational environment will exist and all sides benefit from a much better conducive ecosystem. The target, according to the Customs Command, is a robust relationship existing between the Customs and stakeholders with result in increased revenue and reduction in trade crime.
For the Controller, Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, enthroning sanity at the second largest port in the country is imperative as part of the efforts to promote trade facilitation. Oneyka assumed office at the port in December last year. Ever since then he has been working on ensuring that all obstacles to trade and increased revenue generation are put to check. Apparently aware of decades of the antics of some unscrupulous importers and other stakeholders who try to maximize profit while apparently circumventing laid trade down rules, the Controller has embarked on strategies at finding a redress. This is not without ruffling some feathers. The Controller who spoke to members of the League of Maritime Editors during a courtesy visit said his target is to achieve the much desired compliance to trade regulations by importers and their freight forwarders. He believes that trade compliance will lead to increased revenue and reduce smuggling activities.
He strongly believes that he and his management team will enthrone an era of trade compliance without choking trade. Onyeka describes both as parallel to one another, adding that the gulf which separates them cannot be bridged.
Checking Bonded Terminals
As part of the moves to ensure sanity in the system, Onyeka on assuming office has wielded a strong stick on bonded terminals. This is apparently to ensure that the rules of the game are not abused. This is also to ensure proper coordination of the activities of the terminals under his command. The move may not be unconnected with speculations that some of the bonded terminals simply serve as conduit pipe through which revenue to the government is lost. The Command is therefore taking the stern measures to ensure it meets its revenue target of about N1.5trillion for the year. Besides, beyond the revenue generation phenomenon, Onyeka wants to ensure that bonded terminals are not used for illegal operations. The controller said he is determined to address the challenges of sharp practices in bonded terminals. During the meeting with LOME members, he disclosed that some of the sharp practices in the bonded terminals have been dismantled. Part of this, he said, is in placing a lot of scrutiny on transires containers. He added that the measure includes check on incessant and unwarranted transfer of consignments from the mother port to external bonded terminals. Some of the transfers in the past had been suspected to be for illegitimate purposes, a development believed to have impacted negatively on appropriate revenue collection. But the Controller disclosed that so far, the Command has been able to curb some of the nefarious activities of traders, adding that the mother port and terminals are currently working optimally, even more active than before. He revealed that most documents are treated at the mother port with consignments no more allowed to go to other terminals except they are fully utilised.
Among the stern measures in place, the Area Controller said, is that he does not sign any document he is not sure of its authenticity, insisting that terminal operators cannot serve as a weak link in its operations.
He said, ” We take into cognisance national security, trade facilitation and so on. Once your consignment is the same with your declaration after examination is made, your goods get released. Our officers are at different places monitoring. We equally carry out strong sensitization on Customs clearing agents. The implication is that unscrupulous bonded terminal operators and their customs agents are no longer able to swindle the country or have a field day.
“The service is more than before determined to facilitate trade, this will be done without choking the business community as well as ensuring that we do not under-charge on duties.
“Let me say that before l came, TICT was not completely public in quote, but as far as we are concerned we have improved on that and l can tell you for free and this is verifiable, that TICT is more active than ever before. This is because l insisted that the rules of engagement should reflect trade facilitation and utmost governance system that promotes balance and fairness.”
More Noose to anti-smuggling
Apparently aware that over the decades, the Tin Can Island Port has been associated with smuggling activities, the Controller assured that he will do everything to check this trend. Different items, including drugs, illegal arms and other items worth billions of Naira have been seized in the port. Oneyka told LOME that under his watch, no smuggling will be allowed. But while on this stance, he assured that he is determined to promote trade facilitation. 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”.
Eliminating Multiple Alerts
One of the measures Onyeka has introduced which excites importers and freight forwarders is the elimination of the tradition of multiple alerts. The Command has enthroned one- stop -shop operation which eliminates multiple alerts. In the past, multiple alert system was a nightmare to importers and freight forwarders. The scenario was such that as examination of containers is carried out and the items released at some point, the movement could be halted following the incidence of multiple alert. This was frustrating as it meant more rounds of payments and settlements.
Stakeholders engagement
One of the things working for the Command is the stakeholders engagement by the Controller. During stakeholders’ meeting, the Controller strongly preaches against smuggling and other issues of malpractices involving importers and their freight forwarders. He insists on curtailing smuggling and putting it at zero level. And things have continued to improve.
Increased Revenue Generation
For the Tin Can Island Customs Command, the various measures are no doubt producing positive results. This is seen in terms of revenue generation. The Command has set N1.524 trillion 2025 revenue target for the year, and optimistic of achieving this.
The Command collected ₦347.9bn between the months of January and March this year.
The total amount generated for the first quarter of 2025 which is ₦347,935,672,476.00k is 12.6% higher than the ₦304,000,000,000.00k generated in the corresponding period of 2024.
The January, 2025 revenue generation record shows a total of ₦116, 412,735,766.23 which represents 24.06% over and above the figure of ₦88, 430,126,122.76 recorded within the corresponding period of 2024.
The record for February of 2025 also shows that the sum of ₦103,254,292,839.23k was generated which is also 2.90 % over and above the sum of ₦100,253,187,074.72k generated over the corresponding month of February 2024.
The Command generated the sum of ₦128,268,749,635.00k for March 2025 and this is 10.3% higher than the ₦115,100,000,000.00k generated over the corresponding period of 2024.
The message being preached by Comptroller Onyeka is the need for stakeholders to do more honest declarations so that seamless operational environment will exist and all sides benefit from a much better conducive ecosystem. The target, according to the Customs Command, is a robust relationship existing between the Customs and stakeholders with result in increased revenue and reduction in trade crime.