The Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island Port Command (TCIP), Controller Frank Onyeka, has urged stakeholders to ensure accurate and full declarations of goods to enhance trade facilitation and improve customs operations.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting with executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tin Can Port Chapter, on Wednesday, Onyeka emphasized that proper declarations are crucial in fostering transparency, combating illicit trade, reducing delays, and boosting national revenue collection.
“Proper declarations are the foundation of an efficient customs process. When stakeholders declare goods correctly, it enables us to streamline operations, reduce bottlenecks at the ports, and improve the overall experience for both businesses and consumers,” Onyeka stated.
The call aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) broader objective of strengthening stakeholder engagement, ensuring compliance with global best practices, and creating a transparent, fair, and secure trading environment.
Onyeka reassured stakeholders of the NCS’s commitment to capacity building and the deployment of technology-driven solutions aimed at making trade more efficient. “We must work together to ensure the declaration process is not only a statutory requirement but a tool for trade facilitation. By enhancing compliance and promoting transparency, we are building a more robust, resilient, and dynamic trade ecosystem,” he added.
The meeting, which lasted over an hour and a half, saw stakeholders commending Onyeka’s open-door policy. The Board of Trustees (BOT) Secretary of ANLCA, Mr. Taiwo Oyeniyi, acknowledged Onyeka’s efforts in revenue generation, noting that the TCIP Command has been tasked with increasing its revenue from ₦6.1 billion last year to ₦12 billion this year.
“To achieve this target, Comptroller Onyeka has to block all revenue loopholes. However, we appeal that if he notices any irregularities, he should inform us. Stakeholders should also take advantage of his open-door policy and approach him whenever they need assistance,” Oyeniyi said.
He further praised Onyeka’s previous performance as a valuation officer at TCIP and Onne Command, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the command effectively. Oyeniyi also called on stakeholders to make honest declarations and urged Onyeka to maintain continuous dialogue with industry players.
The NCS remains committed to working with all stakeholders to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure compliance in trade operations at Tin Can Island Port.