Consignments No Longer Go to Bonded Terminals Within Tin Can Island Port – Compt Onyenka
By Ovie Edomi
The Area Controller of the Tin can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyenka at a meeting with members of the League of maritime Editors at his office said that in Tin Can Island Port, consignments are no longer released to bonded terminals. This new approach coupled with the Command commencement of one- stop -shop operations which has abrogated multiple alerts, has made Tin Can Port more active than it used to be.
It would be recalled that before now unscrupulous bonded terminal operators and a network of Customs agents collaborate with bad eggs in the service to move shipments from the nation’s ports to bonded terminals from where they are quickly released.
According to Comptroller Frank Onyenka, ” 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 release. 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”. Sources say it is why the Area Controller of the Tin can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyenka noted that with his deployment to Nigeria’s second largest port, the era of using Tin Can for illicit trade is gone.
He assured the Editors that trade compliance at Tin can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service is not compromised in any form, emphasising that in carrying out their task as customs officers, they would not in any way choke trade.
The development has led to the consistent rise of the revenue of the Command with the Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka stating that he will continue to work with his management team to ensure that the N1.524 trillion 2025 revenue target of the Command is met or surpassed.
It would be recalled that Tin Can Island Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) generated ₦347,935,672.475.5 in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 14.54% or ₦44,144,293,001.87 over the ₦303,791,379,473.67 recorded in the corresponding period of 2024. Last month for instance, the command generated N126 billion which is the highest revenue collection so far since the creation of the Command
The Command’s revenue generation strategies and its zero tolerance for revenue leakages as well as its commitment to driving economic development through improved operations, are second to none in addition to the discretionary mechanism put in place at Tin Can Island port by Compt Onyenka and his management team, this magazine’s investigation revealed.
As part of measures to facilitate trade and enhance its revenue generation efforts he told the Maritime Editors that the achievements of the Command underscore the Command’s dedication to combating illegal activities and ensuring that national security is upheld. Furthermore, he stated that the command under his watch will not compromise trade laws but then all those antics of customs agents that are inimical to trade will not be condoned under his watch. He also disclosed that measures are being adopted to improve the command’s revenue more while showing his appreciation to the Comptroller General for equally having trust in his ability as a revenue/valuation officer.
President of the League of Maritime Editors, Remi Itie commended Comptroller Frank Onyeka stating the League has continued to take cognisance of his giant strides since his deployment as the Controller of the Tin Can island port of the Nigeria Customs Service.
For now, the country needs more patriotic and result oriented officers like him to man the various Customs commands to compliment the Comptroller General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi who has brought a Midas touch to the Nigeria Customs Service as the 14th indigenous Comptroller General of Customs
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