By Frank Onyeka
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 Tin Can Island Port Command following my elevation to the prestigious rank of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG).
This moment is both emotional and historic for me. Serving as the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of this great command has been one of the greatest honours of my career in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). 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 Tin Can 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 is 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 (WCO), 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 Tin Can Island Port Command, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for your loyalty, professionalism, wise counsel, and tireless contributions. Your co-operation 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 co-operation, 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. Tin Can 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.
*Being excerpts of the valedictory address by the outgoing Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tin Can Island Port Command, Apapa, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG) Frank Onyeka at the handover ceremony of the command to his successor, Comptroller Joe Anani in Lagos…recently.
